Islam

Islam Counts on Soccer Mom to Soften Fears

October 20, 2006

Author: Stephanie Simon

Source: Detroit Free Press

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061020/LIFESTYLE04/610200319/1041/LIFESTYLE04

The new president of the Islamic Society of North America lives in an Illinois suburb.

Ingrid Mattson had given up God. She'd stopped saying her rosaries and taking communion. She was an atheist, abroad in Paris before her senior year of college....

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Tunisia Moves Against Headscarves

October 20, 2006

Author: Heba Saleh

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6053380.stm

The Tunisian authorities have launched a campaign against the Islamic veil worn by some women to cover their hair.

Police are applying with renewed vigour a decree dating back to 1981 which prohibits women from wearing Islamic headscarves in public places.

In recent days, senior officials have hit out at what they describe as sectarian dress worn by...

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New £4m Mosque Planned for Town

October 20, 2006

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/berkshire/6058774.stm

The first purpose-built mosque is to be built in Reading following an agreement between Muslim leaders and the council.

The £4m needed to build the new mosque on the corner of Wokingham Road and Green Road will have to be raised by the local Muslim community.

"The new Green Road mosque will be available to all Reading's Muslims and will be a facility of which we...

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BJP Fumes over Iftar on Banks of Ganga

October 20, 2006

Source: The Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2191837.cms

Has Mulayam Singh Yadav stirred a controversy on the banks of the swirling Ganga in Hardwar by organising an Iftar party in a bid to project himself as a champion of minorities?

The Iftar party at Hari-Ki-Pauri on October 14, organised with an eye to garnering Muslim votes for the forthcoming UP and Uttaranchal assembly polls, has given the BJP and the Congress ammunition...

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Parvez Ahmed and Nihad Awad: Reject the Political Muslim-Bashing Smears

October 20, 2006

Source: Star Tribune

http://www.startribune.com/562/story/754239.html

Attacks on Keith Ellison's congressional campaign fit a disturbing pattern that has been seen across the nation this year.

There has been much sound and fury in certain circles about the American Muslim community's support for Keith Ellison and his campaign to represent Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District. A handful of right-wing bloggers, agenda-driven commentators and political operatives have...

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Polio Screening for Hajj Pilgrims

October 20, 2006

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6046184.stm

Saudi Arabia says Muslims on the Hajj pilgrimage must have polio immunisation certificates if they come from states where the disease is endemic. The requirement affects people from Nigeria, India, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Saudi authorities say.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned there could be a resurgence of the virus unless it is eradicated.

Fears of a plot to sterilise...

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A Buddhist Temple in Russia Celebrates 10th Founding Anniversary

October 20, 2006

Source: The Buddhist Channel

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=3,3315,0,0,1,0

Gaden Shedrup Choekhorling, the main Buddhist temple in Elista, Kalmykia, turned 10 on 6 October 2006 and the day was declared as a national holiday by the President of Kalmykia.

The main Buddhist temple was opened on 5 October 1996 and consecrated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 30 November 2004.

Mr. Tashi, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in...

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Islamic Schools Test Ideal of Integration in Britain

October 20, 2006

Source: The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/15/world/europe/15schools.html

The sports hall doubles as a prayer room and dining hall for male teenagers, at other times for young women, but never the two together. In the kindergarten, female teachers, warned of an impending visit by a man, draw full facial veils before receiving their guest. When the guest arrives, the children offer a chorus in Arabic: “As salaam aleikum” -- peace be upon you...

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Sulawesi Christian Priest Killed

October 20, 2006

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6054152.stm

A Christian priest has been shot dead on Indonesia's Sulawesi island, where religious tensions are high after the execution of three Catholic militants.

The Rev Irianto Kongkoli was shot in the head while shopping in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province.

Relations between Christians and Muslims in Central Sulawesi have been fraught since the execution of the three militants...

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Religious Tensions Inflamed

October 20, 2006

Author: John M. Glionna

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/4261380.html

After the government executed three Christians, many in divided nation wonder if Muslims convicted in Bali bombings will meet same fate: An eye for an eye in Indonesia?

Maringan Simanjuntak wipes his brow in Bali's equatorial heat and talks in measured words about the fear and frustration of being Christian in the...

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'Kongsi Raya' Does Not Taint Religion, Says PM

October 19, 2006

Source: Daily Express

http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=45066

The "kongsi raya" activity of sharing the joy of festivities as practised by Malaysians does not tarnish the sanctity of Islam, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Wednesday.

It also does not at all involve any conflict of the faith of Muslims, he added. "Kongsi raya" did not mean the blending of all customs and religious aspects of Islam and Hinduism, for example, he said...

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Religious Festival Fire Warnings

October 19, 2006

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/6062358.stm

Warnings about fire safety have been given to people celebrating two major religious festivals this month.

South Wales Fire Service is urging people celebrating Diwali and Eid Ul Fitr to be aware of fire safety in the home during the festivities.

Diwali is associated with candle use, while special meals are prepared for Eid - both of which the brigade says cause a...

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Muslims Put Faith into Action for Ramadan

October 19, 2006

Author: Jane Lampman

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1019/p13s01-lire.html

Two rows of tables, stretching the length of the gymnasium, are neatly stacked with brand-new items: warm sweat shirts and caps in several colors, thick socks, bright yellow ponchos to ward off the weather, and hygiene kits stocked with towels, toothpaste and a toothbrush, soap, and a comb. There are bags of food, bottles of water, and, for...

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Spanish Schools to Use Islam Book

October 19, 2006

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6067446.stm

The Spanish government, Catholic Church and Muslim leaders have joined forces to publish a school textbook on Islam.

The book Discovering Islam - for primary school children - was written in Spanish by a Muslim leader.

Spanish officials say the book has no parallel among Spain's EU neighbours with large Muslim minorities.

Spain has about a million Muslims, out of a 44 million...

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Muslim Scholars Write the Pope - and Everyone Else

October 19, 2006

Author: Dan Murphy

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1019/p01s03-wome.html

Sohail Nakhooda says Islam has a problem getting its message heard.

Thirty-eight Muslim scholars from 20 countries sent a letter to Pope Benedict XVI urging mutual tolerance and respect over the weekend, and 500 prominent Muslims signed a religious ruling rejecting violence against civilians on Tuesday. Neither got much publicity....

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