Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Inc.

http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2003/12/16122003165720.asp

On December 16, 2003 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Inc. reported, "In Kosovo this year, thousands of Muslim Kosovar Albanians will again be attending midnight Mass along with their Christian neighbors...[Dom Nosh Gjolaj, a priest at St. Ndou Roman Catholic Church] says he does not know how or precisely when the custom of interfaith visitation began in...

Source: The Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow?msid=360962

On December 16, 2003 The Times of India reported, "Standing side by side on the corner of a road at IS Sadan, Saidabad, a temple and a masjid have become a lasting example of communal harmony in the bustling locality. A deep and long-standing friendship between the purohit and the mouzan has made that possible. The mouzan, Syed Pahelwan Ali...

Source: Metro West Daily News

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/local_regional/nthb_curriculum12152003.htm

On December 15, 2003 Metro West Daily News reported that "the Northborough K-8 School Committee approved the curriculum for the Alhuda Academy, a Muslim school formerly located in Westborough.The school, which is prekindergarten through ninth grade, is located on Southwest Cutoff in the former building of Al-Hamra...

Source: Mother Jones

http://www.motherjones.com/news/dailymojo/2003/12/12_517.html

On December 15, 2003 Mother Jones ran an article on the proposed ban of religious symbols in French public schools: "Although the new recommendation includes Jewish kippot (skullcaps) and large Christian crosses, the real debate centers around the hijab, or headscarf, worn by some Muslim women. Arguments differ on why the headscarves should be banned, feminists argue that it is...

Source: Zenit News Agency

http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=46236

On December 15, 2003 Zenit News Agency reported, "John Paul II urged Sudan's bishops and Catholic faithful to make their contribution and respond to their country's urgent social needs. The Pope encouraged the Church's growth in the war-torn country when he received the Sudanese Catholic bishops in audience today, at the end of their five-yearly visit to Rome...'A tentative opening on...

Source: Cleveland Jewish News

http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/articles/2003/12/22/news/israel/rparty1215.txt

On December 14, 2003 Cleveland Jewish News reported, "Thousands of Jews and Arabs fill the winding stone alleyways of a Haifa neighborhood sampling latkes, roasted chestnuts and pastries dripping in honey at a coexistence festival to mark the holidays of Chanukah, Christmas and Ramadan...Now in its 10th year, The Festival of...

Source: The Indian Express

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=37174

On December 14, 2003 The Indian Express reported, "Last month the bombing of a mosque [in the North Indian city of Nanded] triggered riots that went on for a week. In a place where Hindus and Muslims clash at the drop of a grenade, the Sikh community plays the all-important role of the neutral party that often mediates and mends. They enjoy a peaceful existence away from the...

Source: The Houston Chronicle

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/religion/2293190

On December 13, 2003 The Houston Chronicle reported that Houston Muslims came out in full force last week to celebrate the election of M.J. Khan to the Houston City Council with 53.2 percent . "'The whole community is pretty excited,' said Naveed Quraishi, a 48-year-old NASA engineer whose family volunteered on Khan's campaign. 'They did something and it worked. We backed a...

Source: New Straits Times

http://www.mmail.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/Columns/20031213081425/Article/

On December 13, 2003 the New Straits Times ran a column by Rizal Andalas, arguing that the proposed ban of "conspicious" religious symbols in France's public schools constitutes a violation of freedom of religion. Andalas writes, "[T]he proposed ban, while largely understandable when seen through the prism of French...

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--arab-americans-po1213dec13,0,1415504.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

On December 13, 2003 The Associated Press reported that Arab-Americans are organizing politically in an unprecedented way, with activists forming umbrella organizations in at least nine states. State Arab American Leadership Councils have recently appeared in...

Source: The Associated Press

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/local/7474761.htm

On December 12, 2003 The Associated Press reported that "federal authorities say Philadelphia police wrongly barred a female officer from wearing a Muslim head scarf, a ruling that could lead to a civil rights lawsuit against the city.

The local U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission office ruled last month that the department appeared to have violated the rights of...

Source: Ha'aretz

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=370594

On December 12, 2003 Ha'aretz ran a Reuters article that reported, "France's chief rabbi added a Jewish voice Wednesday to a choir of Christian churches calling on President Jacques Chirac to stand firm against a growing movement to ban the Muslim veil in public schools and offices. Grand Rabbi Joseph Sitruk, in an interview with the daily Le Figaro, said...

Source: Contra Costa Times

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/content_syndication/local_news/7475177.htm

On December 12, 2003 the Contra Costa Times reported that "a federal judge has decided that seventh-grade teachers in a small East Contra Costa school district did not violate the U.S. Constitution when they asked students to pretend to be Muslim in lessons about Islam. The case against the Byron school district fueled a national debate...

Source: Cybercast News Service

[CNSnews.com/ViewForeignBureaus.asp?Page=\ForeignBureaus\archive\200312\FOR20031211a.html]

On December 11, 2003 Cybercast News Service reported, "As Christmas approaches, Christians in Indonesia's Sulawesi province are worried that despite an influx of troops and police, the deteriorating security situation of the last two months may worsen. Christian campaigners working in the area say many are too scared to live normal lives, afraid to tend, harvest or market their crops for fear of attack...

Source: The Washington Post

[washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53432-2003Dec10.html?referrer=emailarticle]

On December 11, 2003 The Washington Post reported that Christians, Muslims and Jews recently gathered at Jaferia Islamic Center in Burtonsville to learn about Islamic culture and discover common bonds in the midst of this period of international conflict. "The event, sponsored by the Maryland Muslim Council, was an effort to help dispel misconceptions about Muslims and foster friendships. It included a forum, an...