Islam

New Malaysia Rule on Islamic Conversion

April 11, 2008

Author: JULIA ZAPPEI

Source: Herald-Leader

Wire Service: AP

http://www.kentucky.com/524/story/373138.html

Malaysia will soon require non-Muslims to inform their family before converting to Islam, a move welcomed Friday by minority religious groups who said it will help ease ethnic and interfaith tensions.

The planned rule is aimed at preventing the kind of religious disputes that have frequently erupted in this...

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Muslim Student Association Speaks Against Stereotypes

April 11, 2008

Author: Ashley Bressler

Source: The Daily Collegian

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2008/04/11/muslim_student_association_spe.aspx

Penn State's Muslim Student Association has spoken out to set the record straight in the wake of a recent New York Times article that says Muslim student organizations are not inclusive of students who don't uphold Islamic traditions.

In efforts to dispel these reported...

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BBC Chief Mark Thompson Warns of 'Over-Cautious' Islam Coverage

April 10, 2008

Author: Dan Sabbagh

Source: The Times

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3724384.ece

Mark Thompson, the Director General of the BBC, tonight warned broadcasters against becoming overly-cautious in their reporting on Islam for fear of causing offence to Muslims.

Speaking at Westminster Cathedral Mr Thompson, a practising Catholic, said there was “a growing nervousness about discussion about Islam and...

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"We've Seen This Movie Before," a Commentary by Eboo Patel

April 10, 2008

Author: Eboo Patel

Source: Washington Post/Asia Society

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/09/AR2008040903110.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

Here we go again: Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders has finally released his controversial film "Fitna" ("Strife"), which shows bloody scenes of terrorist attacks to support claims that the Koran inspires violence.

Supporters insist...

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Muslim Health Clinic Wins Group's Praise

April 10, 2008

Author: Mona Shadia

Source: The San Bernardino Sun

http://www.sbsun.com/ci_8885044?source=rss

A free Muslim-operated health-care clinic here has been recognized for bridging the health-care gap.

The nonprofit Institute for Social Policy and Understanding chose Al-Shifa Clinic at 2034 Mallory St. as one of 10 clinics in four United States cities with a large Muslim-American population that are making a difference.

Al-Shifa, which means "...

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Advisory Council of World’s Religious Figures to be Established at UN – Head of Caucasus Muslims’ Clerical Office

April 10, 2008

Author: R. Agayev

Source: Trend News Agency

http://news.trendaz.com/index.shtml?show=news&newsid=1173577&lang=EN

The issue on establishment of an advisory council at UN was discussed during the meeting between the world’s religious figures and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The working groups to study the details of the council will be established in the near future. It was decided that the Muslim religion will be...

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Egypt Complains over Pope Search

April 9, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7338021.stm

Egypt's government has complained after staff at Heathrow Airport insisted the leader of the Egyptian Coptic Church went through a metal detector.

The Egyptian foreign ministry said the treatment of 84-year-old Pope Shenouda III, Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, was "unacceptable".

It added that Pope Shenouda was ordered to undergo a body...

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Religious Rule May Let Muslim Sex Offenders Off Jail Therapy

April 9, 2008

Author: Richard Ford

Source: The Times

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3708850.ece

Muslims convicted of sex offences could opt out of treatment programmes intended to stop them offending because open discussion of their crimes is against their religion.

Ahtsham Ali, the prison service’s Muslim adviser, said that there was a “legitimate Islamic position” that criminals should not discuss...

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Wake Gives Little in Deal with Punished Teacher

April 9, 2008

Author: T. KEUNG HUI

Source: The News Observer

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1030288.html

A former Enloe High School teacher who sued after he was punished for inviting an anti-Islamic speaker to school will not receive any money nor have his personnel record cleared as part of a tentative settlement with the Wake County school system.

Under the agreement, released by the school board Tuesday, Robert Escamilla will drop his lawsuit...

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Austin-Area Religious Leaders Ask Officials to Help Detained Imam

April 8, 2008

Author: Eileen E. Flynn

Source: American-Statesman

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/04/08/0408razi.html

Members of Austin's religious community are rallying around a Muslim cleric who is being detained in West Texas and may be deported to Pakistan.

Imam Safdar Razi, who led a Northwest Austin mosque for six years before taking a job in Dearborn, Mich., in 2006, was arrested on immigration...

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Activists Want Screeners on Camera

April 8, 2008

Author: Audrey Hudson

Source: The Washington Times

http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080408/NATION/282481717/1001

Religious, minority and civil rights activists are asking Homeland Security officials to screen their own airport screeners using video cameras to check whether passengers are being subjected to bias or profiling.

"We believe such controls are critical to ensuring that our...

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What's Behind the Saudi Monotheism Summit?

April 8, 2008

Author: Caryle Murphy

Source: The Pew Forum/Religion News Service

http://pewforum.org/news/display.php?NewsID=15348

A group of visiting Japanese scholars was making a routine courtesy call recently on King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz when the monarch raised a subject that, as he put it, had "obsessed me since two years ago."

Distressed by what he described as disintegrating family ties, a rise in atheism and "an imbalance of reason, ethics and...

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