Islam

Fez Music Festival Builds Bridges

June 27, 2008

Author: Magdi Abdelhadi

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7477108.stm

The week that Saudi Arabia held its first ever conference on interfaith dialogue, Morocco was hosting its 14th festival of World Sacred Music.

Artists from all over the world converged on its ancient city of Fez, to the east of the capital Rabat. While the Saudi gathering was made up of only Muslim clerics discussing a framework for future dialogue...

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Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu and Catholic Schools to be Integrated into Nepal’s Education System

June 27, 2008

Author: Kalpit Parajuli

Source: Asia News

http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=12627&size=A

Confessional schools will be recognised by the state and receive public funds but must in return adapt to a national curriculum. This change does not pose any problem to Catholic schools, which are among the best in the country, but not so for all confessional schools which must implement major changes.

“Small amounts of money have been...

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Call for Action on Muslim Youth

June 26, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7475495.stm

Scotland is not getting the most out of its Muslim youth, according to a new organisation.

The Scottish-Islamic Foundation (SIF) has called for more attention and help to be given to young people. The organisation said issues surrounded education, employment and crime, while "everyone also wants to talk about terrorism".

It hopes to...

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Obama Walks a Fine Line with Muslims

June 26, 2008

Author: Amy Chozick

Source: The Wall Street Journal

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121417738005395419.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

It is inaccurate to call Barack Obama a Muslim. Is it a slur?

The Obama campaign suggests it is. A new campaign Web site designed to air and rebut potentially damaging Internet rumors reads in one part: "Smear: Barack Obama is a Muslim... Truth: Sen. Obama has never been a Muslim, was not...

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Malaysia Burial Row Fuels Tension

June 26, 2008

Author: Frances Harrison

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7475950.stm

The Islamic authorities in Malaysia are in dispute with the Hindu family of a man who committed suicide - with both sides claiming the body for burial.

It is the latest in a series of cases where against the wishes of families Muslim officials have seized remains of people they say converted to Islam.

The family of the man contest his...

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INTERVIEW-Former Indonesian President Urges Religious Tolerance

June 25, 2008

Author: Sara Webb

Source: Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSSP291520

Indonesia's former President Abdurrahman Wahid on Wednesday slammed government restrictions on a controversial Islamic sect and urged the "silent majority" of moderate Muslims to speak out in defence of religious tolerance.

Under pressure from hardline groups, the government issued a ministerial decree this month that stopped short of banning the...

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Russia 'Abuses Ingush Minority'

June 25, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7473645.stm

Russian security forces have carried out widespread human rights abuses in the southern province of Ingushetia, a campaign group has claimed.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) says it has documented dozens of arbitrary detentions, disappearances, acts of torture and extra-judicial executions.

Russia has been fighting Muslim rebels in the area for several years...

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Dispelling Misconceptions About a ‘Hijacked’ Faith

June 25, 2008

Author: Erika Niedowski

Source: The National

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080625/PAGETHREE/913497177/1119

Imran Hafiz was in Grade 4 when the World Trade Center came crashing down on September 11 at the hands of al Qa’eda. Soon afterwards, some children at his Arizona school shunned him on the playground, and he asked why.

“Because you’re a Taliban,” they said.

“No, I’m...

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French Muslim, Jewish Leaders Unite to Encourage Religious Tolerance

June 25, 2008

Author: Lisa Bryant

Source: VOA News

http://voanews.com/english/2008-06-25-voa30.cfm

Europe's largest Muslim and Jewish communities, both located in France, have just elected new leaders Sunday, who both vow to make their faiths more tolerant and open to non-believers. From Paris, Lisa Bryant reports the two men assume their new jobs under difficult conditions.

Mohammed Moussaoui, the head of France's Representative Muslim Council and Gilles...

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Violence Spirals in Kashmir Over Hindu Trust Land

June 24, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Reuters

http://in.reuters.com/article/topNews/idINIndia-34209320080624

Indian police fired teargas to break up protests by Muslims angry with a government decision to transfer forest land to a Hindu shrine trust in Indian Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday.

Authorities last week said nearly 100 acres of forest land in Kashmir was being transferred to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) to erect...

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Local Exchange Student Changes Perceptions of Muslim Cultures

June 24, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: PRNewswire/AFS-USA

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-24-2008/0004838363&EDATE=

Thanaporn "Jar" Panitchanok arrived from Thailand last August with certain notions of what America would be like. After ten months her views have changed; plus, she's shown St. Paul that "Muslim" does not equate to the negative stereotypes so common in the...

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Tensions Rise Between Tibetans, Chinese Muslims

June 23, 2008

Author: Barbara Demick

Source: The Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-muslims23-2008jun23,0,6800977.story

The riot began with a customer's complaint about her dinner.

"Waitress, there's a tooth in my soup," a Tibetan woman said indignantly.

Before long, a curious crowd of Tibetans gathered around the soup bowl. Restaurant owner Yun Sha came out of the kitchen...

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Six Rebels Killed, Trains Halted in Thai South

June 23, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Reuters

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-34187620080623

Security forces killed six suspected Muslim rebels in southern Thailand on Monday, where all rail services have been halted after a brutal weekend attack on a train, police said.

About 200 police and soldiers raided a jungle hideout used by Muslim separatist guerrillas in Yala, one of the four southernmost provinces where more...

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