Posts by: Hammad Arsalan
While intensifying anti-Muslim rhetoric in this nation alone is cause for concern, on Wednesday came news of a Muslim cab driver (pictured) in New York City stabbed by a 21-year-old film student. Meanwhile, a drunk man entered a mosque in Queens, shouting at worshippers while urinating on prayer rugs. In times like these, we can’t help but feel threatened. We can’t help but ask, are we even seen as being American in this nation, or are we seen as a foreign threat or, worse, an enemy?
IN THE NEWS: In Australia, members of an international organization by the name of Hizb Ut-Tahrir have stirred up controversy by calling on Australian Muslims to reject democracy while criticizing any and all efforts by the Australian government to promote interfaith dialog and faith based work, labeling such efforts as propaganda to establish a “moderate” and false [...]
Last week was a dramatic one for both Facebook and YouTube. Of course, the drama involved a country which has seen more than its fair share of chaos, controversy and violence for over the better part of the past decade. Pakistanis perhaps overreacted and let their emotions get the best of them. But while no one should deny others their right to draw the Prophet, it doesn’t mean Muslims can’t speak out against the offensive depictions, either.
[UPDATE: Pakistan added a YouTube ban Thursday, over "growing sacrilegious content."] A “South Park” depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in an episode last month had ramifications in Pakistan Wednesday, when a court order directed the government to block access to Facebook. Sure, freedom of speech is a value we respect in America and Muslims must be tolerant and accepting of others’ views, regardless of how offensive or demeaning they may be. But how, then, does a country whose constitution vows to protect the image of Islam’s prophet carry out that responsibility?
IN THE NEWS: According to a BBC poll released Sunday, global opinion towards the United States has improved significantly over the past year, seeing an increase for the first time since the annual poll began in 2005. Interestingly, negative opinion towards the U.S. increased in Turkey, rising from 63 to 70 percent over the past year, while the number was at 52 percent in Pakistan. What do we think of President Obama?
Tuesday’s signing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act marked a significant day for patient’s rights while providing millions of uninsured Americans access to healthcare. Muslims, it turns out, played a role in moving reforms forward, according to Dr. Faisal Qazi, former president of American Muslim Health Professionals.
IN THE NEWS: Egypt recently opened the doors to one of its oldest synagogues, the Moshe Ben Maimon synagogue, after completion of a $1.8 million restoration process. The synagogue, in which the great Jewish scholar Maimonides once worked, was opened quietly after security personnel installed a canvas curtain blocking off the road [...]
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