[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating about Islam and reflects a wide variety of opinions and approaches. It does not reflect the views of the Critical Currents in Islam page or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week`s roundup to cci@jadaliyya.com by Saturday night of every week.]
John Bolton and the Anti-Muslim Bigotry of Mainstream Conservatism
New York Mag
With news of John Bolton’s incoming appointment, his vehement anti-Islamic stance needs to be understood in the greater context of it’s proliferation in conservative circles.
U.S. Religious Freedom Body Urges Saudi To Prioritize Textbook Reform
Reuters
In a new study of select textbooks in use in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom urges Saudi authorities to remove textbooks that promote intolerance and hate.
Anti-Muslim Round-Up: 3/26/18
Southern Poverty Law Center
A list of several U.S. based and abroad organizations and events that promote intolerance towards immigrants, Muslims, and Islam.
Rotterdam Mayor Called 'enemy of Islam' By Controversial Imam
NLTimes
Controversial Imam Fawaz Jneid from The Hague called Rotterdam mayor Ahmad Aboutaleb an ‘enemy of Islam’ and a renegade Muslim in an hour long preach on social media.
Antagonism Toward Muslims Was Just As Important As Christian Nationalism For Trump’s Evangelical Base
The Washington Post
Examining data from the fifth wave of the Baylor Religion Survey, research finds that despite being involved in sex scandals, Trump performs well with Christian nationalists for his anti-Islam, anti-immigration stances, and a defender of Christian heritage.
People Call on Southwest Airlines to Ban Passenger After Anti-Muslim Tweet
Newsweek
Southwest Airlines was applauded on social media after it called out an anti-Muslim tweet targeting one of their employees—but some users are calling for John Guandolo, known for his islamophobic rhetoric, to be banned from the airline.
How John Bolton and Mike Pompeo Mainstreamed Islamophobia
Vox
John Bolton, President Trump’s pick for his next national security adviser, and Mike Pompeo, Trump’s pick to be the next secretary of state, are well-known hawks. Less well known are their deep and extensive ties to an organized group of anti-Muslim writers and activists.
Why Amani Al-Khatahtbeh Created Muslim Women's Day
CNN
‘To create a day where we just celebrate Muslim women… and engineer a new precedent for Muslim women’s representation in mainstream media,’ Al-Khatahtbeh replies in an interview on her work to improve conditions for Muslims women.
Lebanese Shiite Cleric Expelled From Seminary For Playing Piano
Al Arabiya English
A Muslim cleric has been expelled from his seminary in Lebanon after a video of his piano playing, posted online, drew criticism from conservatives who felt it was undignified behavior for a man of the cloth, he said.
Spread of Wahhabism Was Done At Request of West During Cold War – Saudi Crown Prince
RT
The Saudi-funded spread of Wahhabism began as a result of Western countries asking Riyadh to help counter the Soviet Union during the Cold War, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told the Washington Post.
Islamic State Schooled Children As Soldiers – How Can Their ‘education’ Be Undone?
The Conversation
After an intensive, harmful education from the I.S., programs and dedicated efforts are a necessity for the healthy rehabilitation for the mental and physical health of children.
Pakistani Court Ruling Aims to Publicly Identify All Religious Minorities
Religion News Service
A high court in majority-Muslim Pakistan has ruled that citizens must declare their religious affiliation on their birth certificates, identity cards, passports and voting lists.
Can Islamic and European Civilizations Coexist?
The New York Times
In his new book, Akbar Ahmed argues that strong moral leadership is needed, along with people to transcend over their national, religious, and lingual differences, for the productive compatibility of Islamic and European cultures.
The Wrong Way for Germany to Debate Islam
The New York Times
In light of a German minister remarking that ‘Islam does not belong in Germany,’ the focus of Muslims in Germany should be the negotiation of faith with their placement in Germany.
Saba Mahmood, 57, Dies; Traced Intersection of Feminism and Islam
The New York Times
Saba Mahmood, a Pakistani professor, theorist, and author whose work focused on the intersection of Islam and feminist theory, died on March 10 at her home in Berkeley, Calif.
Islamic Finance Body IFSB Throws Down Gauntlet On Sukuk
Reuters
The Islamic Financial Services Board has proposed a new standard covering the regulation of sharia-compliant capital market products, posing a challenge for regulators, issuers and intermediaries working on Islamic bonds, or sukuk.
Quebec Mosque Shooting Suspect Changes Mind, Pleads Guilty
Religion News Service
The man accused in the slayings of six men at a Quebec City mosque asked for forgiveness after changing his mind and pleading guilty.
Lawyer: Free Speech Shields Woman Charged in Mosque Burglary
U.S. News
An attorney for one of two Arizona woman charged with burglarizing a mosque as they made derogatory comments about Muslims says his client’s case is about free speech rights.
Israel: Orgies, Blackmail and anti-Semitism: Inside the Islamic Cult Whose Leader Is Embraced by Israeli Figures
Haaretz
Following Adnan Ortak, the staunch Islamic creationist, Holocaust denier, and televangelist, is a group of Israeli leaders and rabbis who met to discuss the versatile purpose of the Al-Aqsa mosque and more.
Noor Salman Should Never Have Been Prosecuted In the First Place
The Washington Post
After a long, tiresome trial to prove her innocence, Noor Salman, the wife of Omar Mateen, fits into a narrative of Muslim Americans being strenuously investigated on often little evidence.
Croatia: Muslim Death Notices Desecrated In Zagreb
Total Croatia News
Two ‘notices’ calling for the death of Croatian-Muslim citizens are being investigated in Zagreb, a place where the Muslim community is ‘integrated in the best way possible.’
Secret FBI Informant Drew Gun to Stop Trump-Backing Militiaman Shooting Muslim Women Dead In Street, Court Hears
The Independent UK
An undercover FBI agent held back tears as he explained needing to pull his gun to defend a group of being Muslim women from being shot by a right-wing group.
Immigration Chief In SF Apologizes For Social Media Post Seen As Offensive
San Francisco Chronicle
The head of federal immigration enforcement in Northern California apologized for posting an image on social media that Muslim American groups say is offensive because it dehumanizes Muslim women.
'Justice4Stephon' Rally Held In Baltimore
ABC 2 News
The Baltimore community came together to protest the unjust police shooting of a Muslim-American, Stephon Clark, to raise awareness of the ongoing police brutality against minority communities.