Minaret of Freedom Weblog

Groups like CAIR are on high alert following Capitol riots as they receive direct message from hate group threatening to go “Muslim hunting”:

• FBI Investigating Alleged Anti-Muslim Instagram Threat (KTVI)

“The case has amplified disquiet over the scheme, which has been labelled anti-Muslim and called discriminatory and divisive”:

• Muslim Boy, 4, Was Referred to Prevent over Game of Fortnite (The Guardian)

Khamenei is accused of undermining the fundamental principle behind the vilayat-e-faqih: “If expertise is not required to understand different areas of human knowledge, then the clergy cannot monopolise the understanding of Islam”:

• Covid-19: Khamenei’s Vaccine Ban Exposes Flaw in Iran’s Political System (Middle East Eye)

Following the forced resignation of its network and resource development director for “tweeting antisemitic material under an alias,” Islamic Relief Worldwide is “exonerated of institutional antisemitism”:

• Report Clears Muslim Charity of Institutional Antisemitism (The Guardian)

Marine Le Pen, French far-right leader and daughter of convicted racist Jean-Marie Le Pen, proposes popular law to prohibit Islamic headscarves “in all public areas in France”:

• Muslim Headscarves Barred in All Public Areas in France Under New Measures Proposed by Marine Le Pen (The Independent)

… but South Africa amends dress policy to allow for headscarves after a military officer was indicted for wearing hijab with uniform:

• South Africa’s Army Allows Hijab for Muslim Women (Aljazeera)

A 29-year-old “training and development consultant from Glasgow” defeated an “an imam and teacher” by 107 votes to 60:

• Muslim Council of Britain Elects Zara Mohammed as Its First Female Leader (The Guardian)

An Idaho woman assumes Muslim garb to dodge the mask mandate, pleading “something traumatic from her childhood”:

• Woman Dodges Mask Rules by Dressing ‘Like a Muslim,’ She Tells Idaho City Council (Times-News)

“Western weapons are not only the cause of death of many Yemenis but also the main cause for instability in the Gulf,” said Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesman of the Iranian foreign ministry:

• Western Weapons Main Cause for Instability in Gulf: Iran (Times Now)

After securing ten million doses of vaccine by offering Pfizer data that critics say violates privacy, Israel offers .05% to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza:

• Israel to Give Some Coronavirus Vaccines to Palestinians (AP)

Since VP Harris was critical of Kashmir annexation in 2019, many are hopeful to see improvements in the region:

• Hope in Kashmir as Modi Critic Kamala Harris Takes Office (Arab News)

Neoconservative critics are terrified that Biden will appoint a man who has “has called U.S. Middle East policy ‘a litany of failed enterprises’ requiring ‘self-reflection” and is a true believer in diplomacy'”:

• A Test of Biden’s Commitment to Diplomacy: Appointing Rob Malley as Iran Envoy (Salon)

Some are suggesting Biden help Nasrin Sotoudeh, lawyer of high profile cases in Iran and human rights activist, through negotiating with Iran:

• Opinion: ‘Iran’s Nelson Mandela’ is Back in Prison. Biden Must Push for her Freedom (Washington Post)

Munawar Faruqui, Muslim comedian, is charged under Section 295A of India’s penal code, which prohibits “deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings…” all before opening his mouth:

• Muslim Comedian Jailed in India Over Jokes He Didn’t Even Tell, Says Friend (CBC/Radio-Canada)

“As a community that has often needed to explain itself and what Islam truly represents, we deeply empathise with your shock and anguish that someone who professes the Christian faith seeks to … desecrate it” — Mufti Nazirudin Mohd Nasir

• Muslim, Christian Leaders Condemn Plot by Singaporean Teen to Attack Mosques (Straits Times)

Biden’s restoration of relations with and aid to the Palestinians is driven by a desire to resurrect the two-state solution: 

• U.S. Announces Restoration of Relations with Palestinians (WFMZ-TV)

“President Hassan Rouhani’s chief of staff said the Biden administration is independent and will not follow all Israeli commands like the previous US government, after Israel announced it is revising attack plans against Iran”:

• ‘Psychological War’: Iran Dismisses Israel Military Action Threat (Aljazeera)

Israeli immigration open to “virtually anyone of Jewish ancestry” is closed to three out of four Palestinians living “on land controlled by Israel are citizens of Israel, and even then their rights are limited compared with their nearly seven million Jewish counterparts”:

• Why an Israeli Human-Rights Organization Decided to Call Israel an Apartheid Regime (New Yorker)

“While such deference is particularly inappropriate for a president as willing to lie for personal and political gain as Trump, the Court, to quote [a different decision by] Chief Justice Roberts’ … should never ‘exhibit a naïveté from which ordinary citizens are free'”:

• Through the Looking Glass, Darkly: The Supreme Court’s Muslim Travel Ban Decision (Just Security)

Biden administration want to take the JPOCA is a starting point with or without Israeli input: 

• Biden Says He Will Seek to Rejoin Iran Nuclear Deal as a Starting Point (CBS/ Yahoo! News)
• Biden Will Not Wait for Israel to Make Moves on Iran (Yney)
• Iran Wants the Nuclear Deal It Made (Foreign Affairs)

The perpetrator started with a string of anti-Muslim slurs, proceeded to robbery, and finally to a death threat:

• Man Arrested After Allegedly Berating Portland Worker with Anti-Muslim Slurs (Oregonian / Bulletin)

A Muslim ethicist says the Islamic yardstick for regulating AI should be “falah” (spititual success) which means, first of all, “Do no harm”:

• Muslim Scholars Are Working to Reconcile Islam and AI (Wired)

College professor is being sued for framing terrorist as “absolute mandate of Islam”: 

• Islamic Group Files Appeal to Decision to Dismiss Case Against Scottsdale Professor (Arizona Republic)

Salah says that reflecting on his brother’s survival of the 9/11 attacks made him realize that god meant for him to pursue his passion for football:

• Robert Saleh Says Being the First Muslim Head Coach in the NFL Is a Humbling Experience (CNN)

The EU has been invited to observe and monitor Palestinian election between groups such as Hamas and PA:

• Palestinians Ask Europe to Send Monitors for Elections (AP)

Anti-Muslim law in which the French government can intervene in everyday lives of Muslims is close to submission to the National Assembly:

• France One Step Closer to Implementing Anti-Muslim Bill (Daily Sabah)

Parallels between the Middle East and the US are analyzed through the effects of the Arab Spring and recent American politics:

• From Egypt to the US: Lessons for Activists from the Arab Spring (Aljazeera)

Iran says it is willing to address Saudi concerns:

• Iran Welcomes Saudi’s Readiness to Hold Talks (Middle East Monitor)

President Biden’s repeal of the “Muslim” travel ban brings positive comments from Muslims around the country:

• Federal Executive Order Repeals Muslim Travel Ban  (CBS19 News)
• ‘I Can Breathe Again’: Affected Families Celebrate the End of the Muslim Ban (Huffington Post)

Twitter now says the account banned for violating its policies “was ‘fake,’ without elaborating how it came to the conclusion”:

• Twitter Bans Account of Iran’s Top Leader After Trump Threat (abc News)

Five members of the French Council of the Muslim Faith signed on, but three groups refuse, citing the charter’s “prejudicial …, accusatory and marginalising tone,” fearing it will “weaken the bonds of trust between the Muslims of France and the nation”:

• French Muslim Groups Deal Blow to Macron’s Anti-Extremism Charter (France24)

Sharia courts in Nigeria face a backlash for charging people for blasphemy:

• Nigeria Court Overturns Teen’s 10-Year Prison Sentence for Blasphemy (France24)

As the president of the Pakistani-administered Kashmir, points out Muslim persecution in Kashmir and other parts of India,  a British MP urges parliament to work with the UN and investigate alleged Kashmiri genocide since the special status was revoked:

• Keighley MP Seeks Probe into Kashmir Genocide Claims (Keighley News)

As Muslim representation in media increases, so does misrepresentation. Says one critic, “Netflix is that one kid at school who thinks Ramadan is a country”

• No More, Please! Twitter Livid Over Muslim Representation in Netflix Show (The Express Tribune)

Despite the fact the the US and Iran are both waiting for the other to make the first move on restoring the JCPOA, Iran anno0unces a return to status quo ante oil production:

• Iran Says It’s Reviving Oil Output to Pre-Sanctions Levels (Bloomberg)

Foreign Muslim intervention resulted in death of many Serb prisoners in the war more than two decades ago, and a Bosnian commander is now convicted of “failing to prevent or punish atrocities against” them:

• Bosnian Muslim Ex-Commander Jailed 10 Years over War Crimes by Islamist Fighters, (U.S. News & World Report)

Iran blames the cryptocurrency miners for outages, but they claim the government is making them a scapegoat for badly outdated electricity infrastructure:

• Why Is Bitcoin Being Blamed for Power Outages Across Iran? (TRT World)

As Biden enters office, there are several challenges his administration needs to overcome regarding Iran:

• Nine Hurdles to Reviving the Iran Nuclear Deal (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists)

Israel censors groups like B’Tselem who describe the country as an “apartheid state” from teaching at schools:

• Israel to Rein in Rights Groups Over Use of ‘Apartheid State’ (Aljazeera)

Then NSA chair John Bolton reported that when Trump was trying to negotiate a trade deal with China he greenlighted the detention camps; now, on his last day, Mike Pompeo releases an official statement recognizing Uyghur genocide in Xinjiang: 

• Pompeo Accuses China of Genocide Against Muslim Uighurs in Xinjiang (NPR)

There is a legitimate debate in Islam over whether all interest is usurious, but the Diyanet’s granting of a monopoly on home mortgages to state banks is not moderation, it is statism:

• When is Usury Usury? Turkish Fatwa Casts Doubt on Erdogan’s Religious Soft Power Drive (Middle East Soccer)

French Prime Minister rejects proposal to “outlaw religious veils for children”, which could indicate future changes to current Islamic face-covering ban:

• Macron’s Premier Rejects Veil Ban for Muslim Girls in France (Bloomberg)

Studies show that GPT-3, the most advanced text generator to date, trained not “on real-world fact-checked data, but instead on human sentiments derived from places like Reddit,” has a significant anti-Muslim bias:

• GPT-3 is The World’s Most Powerful Bigotry Generator. What Should We Do About It? (TNW)

Boston-based political scientist who has been lobbying U.S. officials on foreign policy was arrested by the FBI for secretly working for Iran:

• Mass. Political Scientist, Author Accused of Secretly Working for Iran (Boston)

Archbishop of Greece makes Islamaphobic comments at a televised speech that “Islam is not a religion but a political party and its followers are people of war”:

• Muslim Scholars Condemn Greek Archbishop’s Remarks (Anadolu Agency)

Iran blacklists Trump and former senior officials for “their role and participation in terrorist and anti-human rights acts”:

• Iran Imposes Symbolic Sanctions on Trump, Several Members of His Administration (The Globe and Mail)

Egypt seizes assets of Muslim brotherhood members using a 2018 law regarding “organisation and management of the assets of terrorists and terrorist groups”:

• Egypt Seizes Assets of Morsi, 88 Muslim Brotherhood Members (Middle East Eye)

22-year-old Muslim is elected into office to serve on local Board of Education reflecting increased Muslim involvement in politics:

• Skokie’s Bushra Amiwala, 22, Youngest Muslim-Elected Official in U.S. (WLS-TV)

Joe Biden is confirmed to sign several executive orders soon after inauguration, such as returning to JCPOA and overturn Trump’s “Muslim ban”:

• Joe Biden Executive Orders Will Reverse Trump on Climate, Iran, Covid and More (The Guardian)

Hamas and the EU welcomed the announcement, but Palestinian citizens are divided as to whether “elections held under present conditions would not be fair and free” and whether Hamas or Fatah would accept a victory by the other side:

• Uncertainty as Palestine’s Abbas Announces Elections (Aljazeera)

Indian Government mishandling of land in Delhi following the Partition of India has led to modern segregated communities:

• How ‘Muslim Zones’ and ‘Mini-Pakistans’ Came About in Delhi (The Print)

A year after having been cleared of charges in court and “three days after the killing of a leading nuclear scientist and senior defense official” blamed on Israel, an Iranian-American is abruptly convicted without trial and sentenced to ten years in prison:

• Iran Jails U.S. Businessman, Possibly Jeopardizing Biden’s Plans for Diplomacy with Tehran (NBC)

Nine Muslim federations have agreed to denounce “female circumcisions, forced marriages, “virginity certificates,” racism, and anti-Semitism” and to distance mosques from “nationalist speech defending foreign regimes”:

• French Muslim Council Draws Up Charter to Combat Extremism (France24)

BJP had to apologize over an attempt to leverage a dispute over wewlfare3 benefits into a wedge between the Christian and Muslim communities:

• India’s BJP Uses Bishops’ Logo Against Muslims, Apologizes (Union of Catholic Asian News)

The victory for women’s rights will, according to one activist, allow Muslim women in the area “to pursue studies, to be a normal part of society, be financially independent, and follow their dreams about what they want to to become”:

• Lifting of Hijab Ban in Southern Belgium Offers Hope for Muslim Women (TRT World)

Truck parked near US Capitol during last week’s riot had a threatening message singling out Andre Carson for being one of the few Muslims in the US Congress:

• Muslim Congressman Singled Out by Man Arrested During US Capitol Riot (Middle East Eye)

Fairfax County is being sued for when Muslim school board member was pulled over, pepper-sprayed, and forced to take off her hijab:

• Council Files Lawsuit After Muslim Woman Says Fairfax Police Forced Her to Remove Hijab (WSET-TV)

Cracking down on the losers of last November’s elections, Jordan confirms that the Muslim Brother has been “dissolved and lost its legal status” in a move to deny competition “to the state’s previous political levers, the tribes and the army”:

• Jordan Revisits Relationship with Muslim Brotherhood (Al-Monitor)

As Pompeo piles more lame duck sanctions on Iran …

• U.S. Imposes Fresh Sanctions on Iran in Final Days of Trump Presidency (Reuters)

… and over two dozen VoA employees demand “the immediate resignation of their new director and his top deputy” for allowing Pompeo to commandeer the outlet for a propaganda event, counterterrorism officials and Russia’s challenge his claims:

• Friend or Foe? Controversy over Iran-Qaeda Claim (France 24)
• Russia Slams US Over Accusing Iran of Supporting Al-Qaeda (Middle East Monitor)

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) released report regarding China’s involvement with Uyghurs indicating possible US intervention in the future:

• China Possibly Carried Out “Genocide” Against Uyghurs: US Congress Report (NDTV)

As WhatsApp users look for alternatives following recent security and privacy changes, both Turkey and Iran take advantage of the situation to promote their own messaging apps for potential censorship and spying:

• French Firm Collects Location Data from Muslim App (Daily Sabah)
• Turkey, Iran Find Opportunity in WhatsApp Crisis (Ahval)

The application of India’s 14-year old Forest Rights Act to occupied Kashmir may be a silver lining for Kashmir’s forest nomads:

• Kashmir Forest Dwellers Hope Long-delayed Law Will Stop Evictions (Aljazeera)

As Pakistan claims a diplomatic victory as British parliament addresses the crisis in Indian-occupied-Kashmir, and calls for the US and EU to do the same …

• UK Parliament Debate Made Clear Kashmir is Not India’s ‘Internal Issue’: FM (Dawn)

… a Biden appointment signals a potential for an improved US policy:

• U.S. President-elect Joe Biden Inducts Second Kashmir-born Expert in his Team, Leading to Speculation of a Boost to International Human Rights Groups’ Activism on Kashmir (Frontline)

Sweden, which authorizes itself to judge crimes in other countries against non-Swedes,  recently arrested an Iranian national for alleged involvement in the 1988 mass execution of political prisoners in Iran:

• Swedish Trial Paves the Way for Accountability for Iran’s Human Rights Violations (Atlantic Council)

Contradicting past U.S. intelligence officials description of a complicated and tense relationship between Iran and Al Qaeda, Pompeo accused the nation of actively supporting the extremist group:

• Mike Pompeo Claims Without Evidence that Iran Is al-Qaida’s New ‘Home Base’ (The Guardian)
• Pompeo Says al-Qaeda’s ‘New Home Base’ Is Iran, with No Evidence (Aljazeera)

Days after Trump was banned from Facebook, the tech giant bans Iran’s state media, Press TV, without “any warning or explanation.” Press TV credits their criticisms of the West and Israeli occupation for their ban:

• Iran’s State Media Says Facebook Deleted Its Main Page Without Warning (The Hill)

SCOTUS declines to intervene in Muslim flight attendant’s claim that she was fired for not wanting to serve alcohol:

• In Brief: Supreme Court Won’t Take Up Muslim Bias Claims Against ExpressJet (Reuters)

Another popular Muslim prayer app, Salaat First, is caught selling data off to entities linked with ICE:

• Leaked Location Data Shows Another Muslim Prayer App Tracking Users (Vice)

Palestinian activist is taken off terrorist list prepared by Israel after a two-and-a-half-year case:

• Palestine Activist Wins Damages After Name Placed on ‘Terror List’ (Middle East Monitor)

Israel has set a historical precedent of persecuting Palestinians, resulting in unequal distribution of vaccines. Experts say Israel won’t be able to fulfill herd immunity without providing the Palestinians under occupation with vaccines:

• A Regime of Jewish Supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: This is Apartheid (B’Tselem)
• Israel’s Vaccination Drive is Going Great. But We’re Being Sidelined. (New York Times)

State prison guard is being investigated for posting Islamaphobic content on social media, showing that “there is a nexis between the far right-wing in this country that has morphed into terrorists and law enforcement”:

• Connecticut Investigating Prison Guard’s Anti-Muslim Facebook Posts (The Day)

“His legacy will be one that’s recorded in history as having played a massively outsized role in making politics of the US and Israel much worse than they would be otherwise” — Yousef Munayyer, non-resident senior fellow at the Arab Center DC:

• Adelson’s ‘Extreme Positions’ Will Be Long Felt, Palestinians Say (Aljazeera)

“Never say, ‘Why me?’ Say, ‘What for?’ … I have found my purpose in life”:

• Muslim Women’s Voices in ‘Unveiled’ Serve Up Tea and Empathy (DC Metro)

Noting that since 2015 Afghani civilian and military deaths are more than 400 times the number of Americans military deaths, President Ghani hopes that Iranian-American negotiations will coincide with U.S. troops withdrawal:

• Afghan President Calls for Long-Term Relations with Iran (Tehran Times)

After Palestinian groups warned against Israel utilizing the last bits of Trump’s presidency for more illegal settlements, Israel releases statement stipulating the confiscation of 1,008 dunums of land:

• Palestinians Warn Against Dozens of Settlement Plans (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Iran gives Biden until Feb . 21 to change U.S. policy …

• Iran Toughens Rhetoric as Biden Looks to Salvage Nuclear Talks (The Diplomat)

… and as media speculate a potential attack on Iran by President Trump, Iran’s envoy to the UN remains calm:

• Iran’s UN Ambassador: It’s Highly Unlikely That Trump Would Resort to Nukes Against Iran (Tehran Times)

Officials at a London school demand a girl who has worn an ankle-length skirt for years to choose between wearing trousers or showing her legs:

• UK School Threatens Court Action Against Muslim Girl’s Family over ‘Too Long’ Skirt (Arab News)

In Kashmir “financial incentives have led to extrajudicial killings of innocent people” …

• Indian Officer Kills 3 Unarmed Civilians in Kashmir to Claim Cash Reward (Daily Sabah)

… and where Mick Jagger once jammed with local musicians, tourism now is crushed by Modi’s policies:

• In Kashmir’s Stillness, Hopes Wither and Houseboats Sink (NY Times)

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was censored on Twitter after making negative comments regarding Western vaccines and some support the Supreme Leader to be banned from the platform:

• Twitter Poll: Majority Believe Iran’s Supreme Leader Should be Banned from Twitter (Arab News)

“[T]here is consensus among all Palestinian factions about the need to unite for an honest election”:

• Palestine Starts Technical Meetings over Preparations for First Elections in 15 Years (Xinhuanet)

Bangladesh authorities appear to be ignorant of he hadith in which the Prophet encouraged Aisha to perform an errand in the mosque despite her menses by asking her “Is your hand having a period?”

• Muslim Marriage Registrars: HC Rules Women Can’t Have This Job (The Daily Star)

The US designates Yemeni Houthis as terrorist group as they continue to resist the Saudi invasion of Yemen:

• Pompeo to Designate Yemen’s Houthi Rebels as Terrorist Group (FOX23)