[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.]
Faith Politics on the Rise as Indonesian Islam Takes a Hard-Line Path
The New York Times
Joko Widido’s election in 2014 was seen as a victory for the moderate Islam that has long flourished in this country. In 2019, Widido has veered rightward and supported religiously conservative practices.
Indonesia candidates: Metal fan, cleric, soldier, tycoon
AP News
Indonesia’s presidential election Wednesday pits incumbent Joko Widodo against former special forces Gen. Prabowo Subianto in a repeat of the 2014 contest.
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Islam Underlines Indonesian Election But that Doesn’t Make it a Threat
VOA
Though an emphasis has been placed on conservative Islamic issues in commentary on Indonesia’s presidential election, mundane issues like transport and getting the kids off to school will hold far greater significance when ballots are cast.
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Rep. Ilhan Omar Was Right: Threats Against Muslim Americans Are Rising
Mother Jones
While Omar misspoke about CAIR’s history—the group was formed in 1994, though its membership jumped after 9/11—her argument that Muslim Americans have faced increasing suspicion is backed by plenty of evidence.
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Ilhan Omar’s Deeply American Message
The Atlantic
Omar’s core argument was simple: We Muslims are not guests here. We are as American as everyone else and, thus, we should bring our full selves into the public square.
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The problem with Muslim celebrity culture
Al Jazeera
The online platform Muslims of the World announced on its Instagram account a competition to win a ‘free trip to New Zealand, sparking anger among the families of the Christchurch victims. The contest has since been canceled and Muslims of the World issued an apology.
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In Attacking Ilhan Omar, Trump Revives His Familiar Refrain Against Muslims
The New York Times
Mr. Trump and his team are trying to make Ms. Omar, who is relatively unknown in national politics, a household name, to be seen as the most prominent voice of the Democratic Party, regardless of her actual position.
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Web of hate is rooted in putting all Muslims in one category
The Conversation
It’s clear that Islamophobia is on the rise globally. This antipathy towards adherents of the Muslim faith is often presented as a violent reaction to terrorism committed by the Islamic State, a theory rejected by Chris Allen at the University of Birmingham.
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Mohamed Salah: Andrew Robertson claims Liverpool star ‘shut up’ racist fans with goal against Chelsea
The Independent
The Egyptian was the subject of Islamophobic chants from Blues fans during their recent Europa League away trip to Prague, with the lyrics, “Salah is a bomber” heard as a video went viral on social media.
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Ayodhya: the history of a 500-year-old land dispute between Hindus and Muslims in India
The Conversation
Much of the Indian city of Ayodhya is dotted with small Hindu temples. But there is a particular site with no temple on it, which draws worldwide attention and remains a flashpoint of Hindu-Muslim religious tension.
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Facebook allowed violent posts by man charged with Ilhan Omar death threat
The Guardian
Patrick Carlineo, of upstate New York, posted several entries to his Facebook page alluding to violence against Muslims and US officials including former president Barack Obama, a Guardian review found.
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Notre Dame and Al-Aqsa Fires Give Christians and Muslims a Chance to Work Together to Repair Their Sacred Spaces | Opinion
Newsweek
While the fires are indeed unfortunate, they provide an opportunity for Christians and Muslims to reflect upon their common humanity and assist each other in the repairing of sacred spaces.
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India's Supreme Court considers the call to open mosques to women
Reuters
India’s Supreme Court agreed on Tuesday to consider a petition from a Muslim couple to allow women into mosques, seeking to overturn a centuries-old practice that largely bars women from the places of worship.
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Job recruiters discriminate against Muslims, and it doesn’t end at the interview stage
The Conversation
A study from the University of Oxford recently showed that black and Asian people have to send almost twice as many job applications as white British people before they get a response.
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How the far right spread politically convenient lies about the Notre Dame fire
The Washington Post
In the hours before the French police provided an explanation for the fire at the Notre Dame, the prevailing view of far-right figures was nearly identical and, apparently, completely false: that the fire was deliberate and most probably set by Muslims.
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Malaysia probes book on Muslim women who refuse to wear headscarves
Reuters
Malaysia’s religious authorities on Wednesday said they were investigating a book about Muslim women who choose not to wear a hijab, prompting a backlash among women’s rights groups.
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A Small Fire Broke Out at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque as Flames Ravaged Notre-Dame
Smithsonian Magazine
The Notre Dame cathedral suffered significant losses, while Al-Aqsa escaped relatively unscathed, sustaining damage to a single mobile guard booth.
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Malaysia investigates women who discussed their 'dehijabbing'
The Guardian
Three women in Malaysia who held an event discussing their decision to stop wearing the hijab are being investigated by Malaysian Islamic authorities. The event was held to mark the launch of Unveiling Choice, a book documenting the author and activist Maryam Lee’s decision to stop wearing the hijab.
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In Indonesia's election, the winner is Widodo - and Islam
Reuters
Unofficial results from Wednesday’s poll show that incumbent President Joko Widodo was the winner and is set for a second five-year term – but they also reveal a hardening bloc of conservative Muslims who voted for his challenger.
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India’s Government Considers a ‘Muslim Ban’
The Wall Street Journal
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party wants to fast-track Indian citizenship for non-Muslim migrants from neighboring countries while pointedly excluding Muslims.
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Mohamed Salah keeps his balance while Islamophobia persists
Middle East Eye
Last week, a video of a group of Chelsea fans singing “Salah is a bomber” about Liverpool footballer Mohamed Salah was circulated online, sparking outrage and widespread condemnation.
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College golfer in hijab out to blaze trail for Muslim girls
AP News
Noor Ahmed outwardly lives her Muslim faith, and even growing up in a state as diverse as California she says she encountered hostility on the street, in school and on the golf course.
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Maydan editors selected some of the most thought-provoking news items on issues around Islam, religion and public-life for you. Let us know what you have been reading. Drop us a line at mediaroundups@themaydan.com!