Islam

Iowa Students Join Muslims in Fast-a-thon

November 30, 2003

Source: Iowa State Daily

http://www.iowastatedaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/12/05/3deef12157cc0

On November 30, 2003 the Iowa State Daily reported that "about 70 students went without eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset as part of the Muslim Student Association's Fast-a-thon. The Fast-a-thon is based upon businesses pledging money for students to fast, said Saddam Khattak, senior in computer engineering. The $400 raised will go to the...

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Bush Faces Criticism Over Statement that Christians and Muslims Worship the Same God

November 30, 2003

Source: Beliefnet

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/136/story_13644_1.html

On November 30, 2003 Beliefnet published an editorial by Richard Land responding to recent statements by President Bush that Muslims and Christians worship the "same god." Land writes, "When reporters called to ask for my response to the President's statement, I told them that like many other Americans, I applaud the President as a man of deep religious faith who attempts to bring those...

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Update: Zurich Refuses to Recognize Non-Christian Faiths

November 30, 2003

Source: swissinfo

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=105&sid=4503862

On November 30, 2003 swissinfo reported, "Proposed new laws that would have led to the official recognition of non-Christian faiths, including Islam, have been turned down in canton Zurich. Some 64 per cent of voters said no to recognising faiths other than the three official religions in the canton. Markus Notter from the Zurich cantonal government – which only...

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Swiss Imam Seen as Reformer by Some, Theocrat by Others

November 30, 2003

Source: The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2003/11/30/the_reformer/

On November 30, 2003 The Boston Globe reported, "When Tariq Ramadan delivers a lecture, the room is invariably packed to capacity. Afterwards, dozens of young Muslim men are likely to throng the stage, seeking his definitive guidance on everything from veiling to animal rights to how to live with dignity in a secular society...At age 41, Ramadan, an...

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Update: A Month Later, Still no Action on the Boykin Front

November 30, 2003

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/features/religion/la-na-boykin23nov23,1,1984750.s

On November 30, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that despite the fact that over a month has passed since General William G. "Jerry" Boykin's comments on Islam, the Bush administration has done little to support or condemn him. According to the Times, "While the Pentagon investigates Boykin's remarks, the passage of time is turning the episode into...

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Muslim Leaders Elect Council to Establish Shari'a Judicial Court

November 29, 2003

Source: IslamOnline.net

http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2003-11/29/article03.shtml

On November 29, 2003 IslamOnline.net reported, "In the latest effort in a long struggle to have Shari'a recognized in Canada, Muslim leaders in the country elected a 30-member council to establish a judicial tribunal for Muslims...The move is designed to persuade Canadian courts to uphold decisions made under the Muslim law, Ottawa Citizen newspaper said. Jamal...

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Bill Could Ban Wearing Hijab in Public Institutions

November 29, 2003

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3248614.stm

On November 29, 2003 the BBC News reported, "French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin has announced plans that could in effect ban Muslim women from wearing headscarves in public institutions. Mr. Raffarin told a meeting of his governing UMP party on Friday that he plans to introduce a bill that would be aimed at protecting women...A motion approved by 90% of UMP delegates at Friday's meeting near Paris called...

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Islamic College Expresses Shock at Arrest of Former Student

November 28, 2003

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3246140.stm

On November 28, 2003 the BBC News reported, "The Islamic college searched in connection with the arrest of Sajid Badat has expressed shock at the detention of a former pupil it had seen as conscientious. Abdus Samed Ahmed, head of the College of Islamic Knowledge and Guidance in Blackburn, said Mr. Badat had been a good student. 'I was stunned to find a former student has been allegedly linked with al-Qaeda,' [...

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2001 Census Shows Growing Religious Diversity

November 28, 2003

Source: The West Australian

[thewest.com.au/20031128/news/general/tw-news-general-home-sto116339.html]

On November 28, 2003 The West Australian reported, "The most comprehensive profile of WA's religion, language and birthplace - launched this week - reveals there are five main religions and more than 30 minor ones flourishing in WA. The profile is based on results from the 2001 census.More than 63 per cent of the population identified themselves as Christians...Buddhism is the next most practised religion, with 1.6 per...

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This Year, Muslims Celebrate a Special Thanksgiving

November 28, 2003

Source: Beliefnet

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/136/story_13617_1.html

On November 28, 2003 Beliefnet published an editorial by Hesham Hassaballa on a this year's special "Muslim Thanksgiving." Hassaballa writes, "Another great feature of Ramadan this year is that the end of the month coincides with Thanksgiving, and few things can be more fitting. The festival of Eid-ul-Fitr, or 'Feast of the Breaking of the Fast,' is a time of happy celebration after...

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Foreign Office Minister's Comments Upset Muslims

November 28, 2003

Source: The Scotsman

http://www.news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2235938

On November 28, 2003 The Scotsman reported, "Muslim residents of a Labour minister’s constituency have demanded an inquiry by the party’s ruling body into comments they claim could have incited racial and religious hatred...Foreign Office minister Denis MacShane was forced to tone down a speech in his Rotherham constituency last week, in which he had been planning to urge British Muslims...

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Muslims Experience European Life "Separate and Apart"

November 27, 2003

Source: The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16652-2003Nov26.html

On November 27, 2003 The Washington Post ran a feature article detailing a Muslim family struggling for acceptance in The Netherlands, as an illustration of a larger European phenomenon: "Yaakoub's experience offers a glimpse into the conflict between Europe's historically Christian, increasingly secular societies and the large -- and often alienated -- Muslim...

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Update: Espionage Charges Dropped for Chaplain Yee, New Charges Follow

November 26, 2003

Source: Pacific News Service

http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=868db9fa70f7049008926a7bc03acc52

On November 26, 2003 Pacific News Service reported that "Captain James Yee, the Army chaplain at Guantanamo Bay, was freed after spending almost 3 months in military prison on espionage charges. But his release is bittersweet to his family and supporters. Yee is now charged with downloading pornography and...

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