News and Analysis (1/31/21)

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)

Johaer Jilani