Critical Currents in Islam Media Roundup (August 2020)

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Sep 15, 2020
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Critical Currents in Islam Media Roundup (August 2020)

By : Critical Currents in Islam Media Roundup Editors

[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.]

Politics  


Haunted by 2000 and 2016, Muslim American voters eye opportunities in 2020 (7 August 2020) 

While Muslim Americans are not a significant number statistically, their population centers are in many swing states. This election year the Joe Biden campaign is seeking the Muslim vote, but if they continue to count on fear of President Donald Trump instead of policy promises to get it, they will not likely not get enough Muslim votes to make a difference. 

Poor and Desperate, Pakistani Hindus Accept Islam to Get By (4 August 2020)

Treated as second-class citizens, the Hindus of Pakistan are often systematically discriminated against in every walk of life. While minorities have long been drawn to convert in order to join the majority and escape discrimination and sectarian violence, Hindu community leaders say that the recent uptick in conversions has also been motivated by newfound economic pressures. 

Athens Muslims fear Greece will delay mosque opening as Hagia Sophia retaliation (6 August 2020) 

After Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque reopened for worship, Muslims in Athens fear their own official place of worship, delayed for over a decade, will be held back again.

Islamic State group claims deadly attack on Afghanistan prison (3 August 2020)

At least twenty-nine people were killed in an attack on a prison in Jalalabad. The Islamic State group (IS) claimed the attack in which car bombs were used and around three hundred inmates escaped. 

Whither the Arab and the Muslim World (15 August 2020)

The agreement to establish diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel, the Saudi-Pakistani tensions over Kashmir and multiple feuds among the Gulf states and between Turkey, the Saudi kingdom and the Emirates erode the notion that the Arab and Islamic world share common geopolitical interests on the basis of ethnicity or religion and embrace kinship solidarity. 

‘Slap in the face’: Muslims decry Bloomberg’s upcoming appearance at Democratic convention (19 August 2020)

Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg oversaw a surveillance program targeting the city’s Muslim community for over a decade. This week, Muslim-American activists are condemning Bloomberg’s scheduled appearance at the Democratic National Convention at a time when Democrats are trying to unify their party around Joe Biden, in order to dismantle Trump’s policies such as the “Muslim ban.”  

We Need More American Muslims in Public Life (21 August 2020) 

Despite relatively small numbers, American Muslims form an extraordinary diverse community. Yet, this has not translated into adequate representation at foreign and domestic policy levels. 

 Indian Muslims and jihadist failures: Past and future (21 August 2020) 

Over five years after ISIS declared itself a caliphate and al-Qa‘ida announced a South Asian branch, the Indian Jihadist landscape has not progressed in a major way. This article explores the reasons for the lack of Jihadist terrorism in India. 

Why the West seeks to vilify political Islam (22 August 2020)  

Initially published in 2016, Understanding Political Islam by Francois Burgat offers an analysis of political Islam that is not tainted by western prejudices, ideologies, abstractions and orientalist fantasies. Focusing on the definition of “Islamism,” Burgat argues that it is the continuation of the South’s long process of self-emancipation from the North. As such, it threatens western imperialist domination, influence and control.

Influential Muslim scholar Hamza Yusuf criticized for backing UAE-Israel deal (21 August 2020)

Hamza Yusuf, a prominent Muslim scholar based in the United States, is facing criticism after publicly endorsing the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) decision to normalize ties with Israel. 

To beat Trump, the ‘good Muslim bad Muslim’ messaging has to end (21 August 2020) 

Muslims are a key voting bloc on a local level and growing clout on state level. In this upcoming presidential election, Muslims make up a key constituency in various swing states that Democrats will need to win. Instead of tokenizing of alienating Muslim voices, the Biden campaign needs to engage substantially with Muslim leaders in America and build a campaign that actually represents the big tent it claims to host. 

Turkey’s Erdogan orders historic church to be turned into mosque for Muslim prayers (23 August 2020) 

About a month after reconverting Istanbul’s landmark Hagia Sophia into a mosque, Turkey’s Erdogan has now ordered another ancient Orthodox church to be converted into a mosque. Istanbul’s medieval Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora, also known as the Kariye Museum, is to be handed over to Turkey’s religious authorities for its conversion to become a mosque. 

Changes in the Muslim world (23 August 2020) 

Recent developments in the Middle East demonstrate that the Gulf states, and especially Saudi Arabia, have already made some difficult decisions linked to their geostrategic realignment which could entail their desertion of the custodianship of the ummah. 

How China uses Muslim press trips to counter claims of Uighur abuse (23 August 2020)   

In recent years, Beijing has reached out to the Muslim world, bringing more than thirty journalists from Islamic countries to Xinjiang in a bid to refute Western headlines claiming human rights abuses. 

Biden camp apologizes to Muslim Democrats after condemning Linda Sarsour (25 August 2020)  

The Joe Biden campaign appears to be publicly condemning anti-Israel activists while privately pandering to them. After condemning the Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour, team Biden quickly went into damage control to shore-up support with Muslim-American Democrats in a private phone call. 

Radical Muslims Wage War for Control of Nigeria, Christians Suffering ‘Massive Attacks’ (26 August 2020) 

After losing ground in Syria and Iraq, the top general of US Special Operations Command in Africa is warning that al-Qa‘ida, ISIS and other Islamist terror groups have set their sights on Nigeria. Militant Muslims are waging an insurgency to overthrow the government and get rid of its Christian population.

American Muslim groups rally thousands to get political on National Muslim Voter Registration Day (28 August 2020) 

American Muslim activists across the country are rallying their communities to participate in National Muslim Voter Registration Day to impact the 2020 presidential election. MPower change, together with grassroots organizations, launched the #MyMuslimVote campaign to promote a nationwide virtual registration drive. 

UK Muslim charities face ‘serious mismanagement’ inquiries (28 August 2020)  

Britain’s Muslim charity sector is in systemic crisis with leading organizations under scrutiny by regulators over governance and accounting issues. Human Appeal, a charity based in Manchester, is under a statutory investigation by the Charity Commission after upheaval in its management team and changes to its accounting practices. A statutory investigation is the most serious step the Charity Commission can take against a British-registered entity.  

Muslim group asks for a probe into potential voter suppression in New York town (31 August 2020) 

Arabs and Muslims in a small town in upstate New York may have been targeted during June’s primary elections, as hundreds of absentee ballots that were disqualified belong to people with Middle Eastern-sounding names. 

COVID-19  


In the latest sign of COVID-19 related racism, Muslims are being blamed for England’s coronavirus outbreaks (6 August 2020) 

Coronavirus conspiracy theorists have spread baseless rumours online frequently targeting minorities. In England, the latest wave of vitriol criticizes Muslims, blaming them for spreading COVID-19. 

 ‘Sinicization’ of Islam intensifies Amid the Pandemic (7 August 2020) 

The coronavirus outbreak did not prevent China’s president Xi Jinping from pushing forward his policy to “sinicize” Islam. Numerous domes and star-and-crescent symbols were removed from mosques in the Northwestern province of Gansu amid the pandemic. In late March, Islamic symbols were removed from seventeen mosques.  

‘We must act now’: UK Muslims bear brunt of COVID-19 amid government complacency (16 August 2020)

An Office for National Statistics report into COVID-19 mortalities by religious group recently revealed that the highest death toll was in the Muslim community. The report has at various stages drawn fierce criticism from Muslim community leaders. 

For Muslim Women in Niqab, the Pandemic has Brought a New Level of Acceptance (21 August 2020)  

For Muslim women accustomed to being the only people in their communities wearing face coverings, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought an unexpected, welcome change. The niqab now stands out far less and women who embrace it may have reason to hope that it will continue to be more accepted even when the pandemic is over.

Arts and Popular Culture


How Hollywood Can Better Represent Muslim Characters and Storylines (7 August 2020) 

For self-identifying Muslims, there was something to finally cheer during the Emmy Awards when Ramy Youssef (Ramy), Mahershala Ali (Ramy) and Yahya Abdul Mateen II (Watchmen) were nominated in major categories. These nominations are a breath of fresh air since racism and vilification have been perpetuated by Hollywood’s long history of portraying Muslims and other minority groups as sub-human figures. 

One of the most important sites in Muslim-American history still stands in Cedar Rapids (6 August 2020) 

The Mother Mosque of American in Cedar Rapids was the first building designed and constructed specifically as a house of worship for Muslim Americans. In 1996, building was added to the National Register of Historic Places and it represented a vital starting point for the development of Islam as an established religion within the United States.

Book by NU-Q Professor focuses on Islam in Africa (7 August 2020) 

A new book by Dr Zachary Wright explores eighteenth-century Islamic scholarship in North Africa with a special focus on the founding of Africa’s largest Sufi order: the Tijaniyya. Entitled Realizing Islam: The Tijaniyya in North Africa and the Eighteenth-Century Muslim World, the book argues that Muslim scholars from India to West Africa shared in intellectual debates and exchanges, collectively motivated by the desire to verify the foundations of law, theology, and mysticism. But local contexts dictated that Islamic revivalist thinkers went about this project of verification in divergent ways.

Kazakh philosopher who connected Islamic philosophy with West more relevant than ever before (5 August 2020)

An article on al-Farabi, who lived in Damascus and Baghdad also lived in Alexandria, spoke Greek and translated ancient Greek texts, and was well familiar with both Christian theology and the Greek and Latin thought of the ancient world.

Ertuğrul: how an epic TV series became the 'Muslim Game of Thrones' (12 August, 2020)  

Ertuğrul, a popular Turkish drama series has been widely dubbed the “Muslim Game of Thrones.” Its positive depiction of Islamic rituals and scripting has helped it appeal globally to the Muslim diaspora. Despite its widespread popularity, the show has become entangled in a culture war between religious conservatives and secular critics. In Egypt, scholars have also cautioned against the dangers of Turkish soft power cultivated by such epic dramas.

Minority Off-Screen, Minority On-Screen: The Missing Muslim Voice in ‘Indian Matchmaking’ (14 August 2020)  

Despite the valid criticisms of Indian Matchmaking as being “outdated” and “orientalist,” few have managed to call the show out for its non-inclusiveness. The glaring absence of Indian Muslims sits well with the obliteration of Muslim voices from the collective imagination, being acted out with renewed vigor in recent times. Plagued by stereotypes and cast in frustratingly similar moulds, on-screen representations of Muslims have seldom managed to break free from the off-screen propaganda against them. 

Political Thought in Contemporary Shi’a Islam: Muhammad Mahdi Shams al-Din (16 August 2020)  

Dr Farah Kawtharani’s new book not only explores a notable counter-thesis to Khomeini’s absolutist Wilayat al-Faqih theory, but also ideas on civil government and the prospects for Shi’a in particular living as minorities within a multi-confessional society of a modern nation-state. 

'It's Not Religion': In 'The Runaways,' Bhutto Examines The Lure Of Extremism (17 August 2020) 

In The Runaways, a new book by Fatima Bhutto, the author explores the forces that compel young people to give up everything to join violent extremist movements. In The Runaways, Bhuttoposits that it is not religion that drives her characters into extremist movements. Rather, it is humiliation, poverty, rejection, heartbreak, loneliness, and alienation. 

Meet the Man behind Muslim Manga, Hamed Nouri (13 August 2020) 

In this interview with Hamed Nouri, the founder of Muslim Manga (@muslimmanga), Nouri explains how he uses Japanese-style comics to tackle stereotypes about Islam, and how he creates relatable content for Muslim readers.

What We Are Reading Today: Islam in Pakistan; A History by Muhammad Qassim Zaman (18 August 2020) 

Dr Muhammad Qassim Zaman’s new book about Islam in Pakistan is the first comprehensive book to explore Islam’s evolution in the region from the British colonial era to the present day. 

Looted landmarks: How Notre-Dame, Big Ben and St Mark’s were stolen from the East (13 August 2020)   

Stealing from the Saracens, a new book by Middle East expert Diane Darke traces the roots of Europe’s major buildings back to their Middle Eastern predecessors. Darke’s book reveals how monuments idealised by right-wing nationalist groups as bearers of a “pure” European identity have their origins in the very culture of which they are so suspicious. 

Hagia Sophia has been converted back into a mosque, but the veiling of its figural icons is not a Muslim tradition (18 August 2020)

In the rush to reassert Hagia Sophia’s Islamic past, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his associates have inadvertently, and superficially emulated certain Orthodox Christian practices. Images of Mary and Christ were often ritually veiled and unveiled in Byzantium, while later Ottoman Muslim rulers did not engage in such practices. 

After 90 years, Bangkok’s ‘Muslim restaurant’ To Serve Its Last Mutton Briyani (24 August 2020) 

A legendary halal restaurant in Bangkok’s old quarter will shut down next week after nearly a century. Unambiguously named Muslim restaurant on Chaoren Krung road, the restaurant announced that it will cease operations due to years of losses caused by rising rent prices. The pandemic was the final straw after the restaurant was forced to close for months and saw tourism evaporate.

Kanye West accused of ‘disrespecting Islam’ with name of new Yezee Boosts (24 August 2020) 

Kanye West has been accused of “disrespecting Islam” with the names of his new Yeezy Boosts. Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Israfil and Yeezy Boost 350 V2 Asriel are named after the Islamic angels of music (Israfil) and death (Asriel). Critics have taken to social media to denounce the rapper for making a “mockery out of Islam.” 

Halal Fresh: UK start-up fills recipe box gap for Muslim communities (26 August 2020)  

London-based Saima Duhare recipe-box start-up Halal Fresh is filling a gap in the market by delivering Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC) certified recipe boxes to the Muslim community. At just eighteen months old, this “one-woman band” business is thriving.

Under Armour releases a sports hijab for Muslim athletes (27 August 2020) 

With the launch of its first sports hijab, American sport company Under Armour has taken significant steps to make the fitness industry more inclusive. 

Muslim matchmaking app sees spike in downloads during pandemic (30 August 2020)  

Muslim matchmaking apps like Minder and Muzmatch have been growing in popularity for the past several years. But the pandemic saw an even bigger spike in downloads and usage. 

Religious Thought and Practice


What is Islam’s appeal to Māori (19 August 2020) 

Conversion to Islam has been on the rise in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Particularly among the Māori, there has been great interest in the religion, with the Qur’an translated into Te Reo Māori (2008) and Māori Muslims organizing halal hāngī and “Matariki at the Mosque” events. This article discusses the reasons for this phenomenon and analyzes how conversion affects New Zealanders’ identity and belonging.

Spirit or reason? Muslim public intellectuals in the German and European far right (17 August 2020) 

Over the past two decades, a number of conservative and far-right white Europeans have turned towards Islam. At the same time, a significant number of born Muslims have joined the European far right, a movement that as a bloc campaigns against the Islamisation of Europe. This article explains how and why Islam is a key function of the far right’s self-vision. 

How Islam came to dominate Indonesia (25 August 2020)

Unlike other parts of the world, Islam spread in Southeast Asia without a major conquest. Focusing on economic, cultural and social factors, this article explains how Indonesia became the world’s largest Muslim country.  

ImamConnect- an “Uber for Imams” - the world’s first online Muslim services platform (26 August 2020) 

ImamConnect is the world’s first online platform for Muslim services. The platform comprises of a global community of vetted service providers of Muslim life needs, including pre-marital counseling, marriage ceremonies, Islamic studies, and more. 

Ashoura: Why Muslims Mourn and Fast in Muharram (28 August 2020) 

Ashoura is marked on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Muslim calendar. It marks the day Noah (Nuh) left the Ark and the day Moses (Musa) was saved by God from the Pharaoh of Egypt. However, for the Shi’a, Ashoura is also a major religious event to commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn Ibn Ali al-Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad who died in the battle of Karbala in 680 AD. 

Women, Gender, and Sexuality


Queer Muslims are Carving Out Their Space on TikTok (5 August 2020)  

TikTok videos posted under hashtags #QueerMuslim and #LGBTMuslim offer a range of lived Muslim experiences. Despite the backlash, queer Muslim TikTokers continue to post and claim their space online. This interview series with several queer Muslim TikTokers focuses on their experiences on the platform. 

A Dutiful Boy Is a Moving Memoir about Growing Up Gay and Muslim (17 August 2020) 

In this interview with Mohsin Zaidi, a criminal barrister and debut author of A Dutiful Boy: A Memoir of a Gay Muslim’s Journey to Acceptance, Zaidi speaks about the motivations for writing his book and the challenges faced by queer Muslims today. 

Photographing the Muslim trans community of Yogyakarta (17 August 2020) 

Learning about Indonesia’s only Islamic school for transgender people in Yogyakarta, Fujio Emura decided to create a photo series. In this interview with i-D, Emura speaks about the specific challenges faced by these women, as well as his efforts to fundraise for the Islamic school during the pandemic.

English soccer’s first female Muslim referee, a former Somalian refugee, says she aims to one day officiate in the Premier League (17 August 2020)  

Jawahir Roble, English soccer’s first ever female Muslim referee, has set her sights to officiate in the Premier League.

A Feminism Check with ‘It’s Not About the Burqa’ (24 August 2020) 

Edited by Mariam Khan, “Its Not About the Burqa” is a compilation of essays written by seventeen Muslim women living in the West. As the terms “feminism” and “Islamophobia” clash together, the essays reveal how Muslim feminists are constantly caught between radical Islamists and race supremacists.   

Noor Inayat Khan: Muslim war hero who became an ‘unlikely spy’ for Britian in WWII to be honored with blue plaque (28 August 2020) 

Noor Inayat Khan, a Muslim woman who became an “unlikely spy” for Britain when she was dropped into occupied France during the Second World War has been honoured with a blue plaque at the site of her family home in London.

Ayşe Hümeyra Ökten: Pioneer of modern Muslim women (4 September 2020)

Ayşe Hümeyra Ökten was born in October 1925 in Istanbul's Fatih district. She graduated from the Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine in 1949 with high honors and was the first female medical doctor assigned by the Turkish Red Crescent for the hajj worship. She first traveled to Mecca and Medina as part of this duty in 1953. This marked a milestone in her life since she decided to settle in Medina for the rest of her life.

BLM, Race Relations, and Police Brutality


Why do Muslim American organizations still support the police? (13 August 2020)  

Conversations within much of the non-Black Muslim community in the United States continue to reflect an overreliance and deferential attitude towards the police. Leaders of multiple American Muslim institutions appear more concerned with protecting their delicate relationships with law enforcement than allying with subjugated communities protesting state violence.

Where Do I Fit In As a Black British Muslim Woman? (17 August 2020) 

Dahaba Ali Hussein reflects on her identity as a Black British Muslim woman, and recounts her experiences with Islamophobia and anti-blackness.

Ramy Youssef on highlighting anti-Blackness: ‘The conversation about race in America is very binary (17 August 2020) 

In this interview with Ramy Youssef, creator of the critically acclaimed Hulu series Ramy, Youssef speaks about anti-Blackness within Muslim communities and the lack of Black Muslim representation in Muslim narratives.

The hidden racism of the Muslim marriage market (21 August 2020) 

In this opinion piece, lawyer Nailah Dean recounts the unique challenges she faces in her dating life as an Afro-Latin American born to convert parents. Dean speaks of her experiences, learning that she was often not included in the pool of potential spouses because she was not of the desired ethnic background. 

Climate Change


Islam and eco-theology: The future of environmentalism (5 August 2020) 

Although Arab countries were investing in the promotion of eco-theology, the current coronavirus pandemic has created twin financial and health crises that have forced Arab governments to neglect environmental protection. However, COVID-19 is thriving in the Middle East because of environmental problems such as air pollution and water scarcity. In the post-pandemic era, the relationship between Islam and environmentalism will become crucial.

What does Islam say about climate change and climate action? (12 August 2020) 

Many Muslim countries are reluctant to impose Western concepts of environmentalism, or to concede to countries which have already gone through industrialization without having to address pollution or curb emissions. Instead of imposing environmental colonization, a movement of “Islamic environmentalism” based on Islamic tradition is more effective to address environmental concerns in Muslim countries 

Islamophobia 


Muslim ICE Detainees Reportedly Fed Pork, Told by Chaplain: ‘It Is What It Is’ (19 August 2020) 

Muslim detainees at the Krome Service Processing Center, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Miami were reportedly given the choice of pre-packaged pork-based meals or expired halal meals at least two to three times a week. 

Toronto Muslims want mosque attacks investigated as hate related (20 August 2020) 

Masjid Toronto, a mosque which is part of the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) has been attacked by vandals numerous times in the past three months. In addition to broken windows, racist graffiti has been scrawled on the windows and walls. 

A Norfolk Navy chaplain wrote a book calling Islam ‘evil.’ He says its been taken out of context (21 August 2020) 

Brain Waite, an Oklahoma pastor who previously served as a navy chaplain wrote a largely plagiarized book in which he denounced Islam as “evil” and compared it to Nazism. Although the book later led Waite to be dismissed from the staff of the Graduate Theological Foundation, it did not derail his military career.

After the Christchuch shootings, New Zealand promised change. But Muslims there still don’t feel safe (24 August 2020)  

After a right-wing terrorist live-streamed the massacre of fifty-one people at two Christchuch mosques, New Zealand’s leaders promised the country would change. Within four weeks, new gun reforms were passed and within two months, a global campaign was launched to stop terrorism spreading on social media. However, an official inquiry into the attacks still remains undelivered eighteen months later, and some say that the underlying Islamophobia has not been addressed.

Non-Muslims who live close to Muslims are less likely to be Islamophobic, study shows (27 August 2020) 

The most recent Islamophobia in Australia report shows Muslims continue to be the targets of hostility and violence. According to the report, Australians typically know very little about Muslims and their faith. Consequently, Australians tend to look over the diversity within Muslim communities and view Muslims as a monolithic backward, gender-oppressive and violent group. However, surveys have shown that non-Muslims living in Muslim areas were less likely to be Islamophobic.  

New Footage Shows Pheonix Police Mocking Muslim Man’s Faith As They Kneel On Neck, Killing Him (26 August 2020) 

New body-camera footage revealed Phoenix police insulted Muhammad Muhaymin Jr.’s faith while he pleaded for help before his death. Muhaymin could be heard multiple times pleading with officers that he could not breathe. The footage depicts multiple officers pining Muhaymin to the ground with at least one placing their knees on his neck and back.  

Why are British Muslims being falsely blamed for the spread of COVID-19? (27 August 2020) 

Leading activists in the United Kingdom are saying that rising coronavirus levels in Britain are being falsely attributed to the Muslim community. Far-right factions have used the virus to sow racial and religious division within society by blaming ethnic minorities for its spread. 

UK news coverage of terrorism puts ‘disproportionate focus on Muslims’ (26 August 2020)  

According to a report by the Muslim Council of Britain’s Centre for Media Monitoring, more than half of UK news stories over the past five years mentioning terrorist, terrorism, or terror also make references to Muslims or Islam. That is almost nine times more than the amount compared to perpetrators who identified as “far-right,” “neo-Nazi” or “white supremacist.”

Facebook executive who shared anti-Muslim post apologises: Report  (27 August 2020) 

Ankhi Das, a Facebook India executive has apologized to Muslim staff for sharing a post that dubbed the Muslims in India as “a degenerate community.” Facebook is under fire after The Wall Street Journal reported that Das refused to apply the company’s hate speech policies to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politicians and other “Hindu nationalist individuals and groups.” 

China reportedly secretly built hundreds of prison camps to hold minority Muslims (27 August 2020)   

China has secretly constructed new prisons and internment camps over the past several years as the Communist Party-ruled country ramps up its mass detention campaign against Muslim minorities.

India’s police ‘complicit’ in anti-Muslim riots, alleges Amnesty (28 August 2020) 

According to an investigation by Amnesty International India, Delhi police were “complicit and an active participant” in the February violence in which fifty-three people were killed. The violence broke out after weeks-long peaceful sit-in protests by Muslims in northeast Delhi against a controversial new citizenship law were targeted by Hindu nationalist mobs. 

From Tourists to Terrorists: How Foreign Muslims Were Vilified and Arrested in India (28 August 2020)  

In the last week, three Indian courts have criticised the Indian government and media for vilifying members of the Tablighi Jamaat. The courts ruled that since the government was unable to handle the COVID-19 crisis, it made the organization a scapegoat, branding its members as “super carriers.” 

Being Muslim means I’m forced to apologise for terrorist attacks that had nothing to do with me (28 August 2020)  

After terror attacks happen, especially in the West, it seems that the media makes everyone else “us,” and all Muslims become the “other.” This media bias perpetuates and stigmatizes and negatively impacts all Muslims. It insinuates that Muslims and terrorism are intertwined and that the motivator behind a terror attack is always Islam.  

Norway: Clashes break out in anti-Islam rally (29 August 2020)

Clashes broke out at an anti-Islam rally in the Norwegian capital of Oslo, prompting authorities to end the event early. Organized by the group Stop Islamization of Norway (SIAN) took place near the parliament building. The event came to head when a female member of SIAN ripped pages from the Qur’an and spat on them. 

Scores injured as police break up Muslim march in Kashmir (29 August 2020)  

Government forces fired shotgun pellets and tear gas to disperse hundreds of Shi’i Muslims participating in a traditional religious process in the Indian-controlled Kashmir. 

Riot in Sweden after anti-Muslim Danish leader banned (30 August 2020) 

At least ten people were arrested and several police officers injured during clashes in southern Sweden after an anti-Muslim Danish politician was blocked from attending a Qur’an burning rally.

How Facebook threatens vulnerable Muslim communities (30 August 2020) 

A recent investigation by The Wall Street Journal has revealed that when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable Muslim minorities, Facebook not only put the profits and politics before social and moral responsibility, but also before its stated user policies.

Restrictions on Muslim call to prayer in South Africa spark outrage (31 August 2020) 

Two orders in South Africa restricting the Muslim call to prayer have led to outrage amongst Muslims.
Aug 5, 2020 Lebanon
Critical Currents in Islam Media Roundup Editors By :
Critical Currents in Islam Media Roundup Editors

Critical Currents in Islam Media Roundup (July 2020)

[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.]

Politics


“The elusive pragmatist who transformed political Islam in Indonesia” The Interpreter (16 July 2020)

This article chronicles the life of the late Hilmi Aminuddin, a Muslim scholar who established the Indonesian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood (1983). While Aminuddin was perceived by the general public as an unremarkable party man, he played an influential role in transforming political Islam in Indonesia by introducing a disciplined socio-political project to Islamise Indonesia through the universities, the democratic process and the state. 

“Egypt’s eternal conundrum - reforming religious thought” Qantara (14 July 2020)

Tensions between Al-Azhar University’s Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb and Cairo University’s President Mohamad al-Khosht over the subject of religious reform were apparent in a recent international conference hosted by the former.

“Biden promises to end Trump's 'Muslim ban' on first day in office” Middle East Eye (20 July 2020)

US Presidential hopeful Joe Biden urged Muslim Americans to vote, vowing that if he is elected president instead of Donald Trump, he will end the latter’s ‘Muslim ban’ on his first day in office.

“My journey through 20 years of British terror laws” Middle East Eye (21 July 2020)

Anti-terror laws in Britain have been applied over the past 20 years. Moazzam Begg argues that his own experience of them is living proof.

“Amidst the pandemic, Hezbollah buries fighters killed in Syria” Atlantic Council (Published: 20 July 2020)

As both Lebanon and Syria continue to fight against the spread of the deadly coronavirus, the remains of Hezbollah fighters killed years ago are returning to Lebanon and the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group are burying them one after another.

“US counterterrorism in the Sahel: from indirect to direct intervention” Chatham House (6 July 2020)

An in-depth article addressing the constitutive effects of US indirect military intervention in the Sahel after 9/11, and subsequent more direct military intervention following the outbreak of civil war in Mali. Stephen Tankel argues that the massive expansion and evolution of United States security cooperation under the auspices of the ‘war on terror’ remains overlooked in the counterterrorism and interventions literature.

“Drone imagery in Islamic State propaganda: flying like a state” Chatham House (6 July 2020)

This in-depth article provides an analysis of the Islamic State's use of images taken by drones, drawing on a dataset of ISIS propaganda images from October 2016 to December 2018. Through an analysis of ISIS drone propaganda, the article provides an insight into non-state actors’ perception of drones and the communicative value of drone images. 

“Shamima Begum ruling reignites debate over Britons who joined ISIS” The Guardian (16 July 2020)

The latest ruling in the Shamima Begum case has reignited the debate over how a state should deal with so-called foreign fighters and their families, and prompted fears that others who have had their citizenship stripped will attempt similar appeals.

“Killing of Islamic State expert in Baghdad marks critical moment for Iraq” The Guardian (7 July 2020)

Hisham al-Hashimi, an Iraqi official murdered outside his home earlier this month, backed action to tackle Iraq’s powerful militias, despite knowing the risks.

“In life and death, Iraq’s Hisham al-Hashimi” Chatham House (14 July 2020)

Renad Mansour pays tribute to his friend and colleague, one of Iraq’s foremost security specialists and an expert on the so-called ‘Islamic State’, killed in Baghdad.

“At least 180 civilians killed in Burkina Faso town, says rights group” The Guardian (9 July 2020)

At least 180 civilians have been killed in recent months in a single town in Burkina Faso, with evidence pointing towards the country’s often-accused security forces, according to a report by Human Rights Watch.

‘Yazidi women are strong’: Iraq's female landmine clearance teams” The Guardian (7 July 2020)

Isis planted mines across Sinjar and displaced the Yazidi community. Now a group of women are clearing the way for the return of their people.

“US House Democrats pass what could be the first ‘Muslim civil rights bill’” TRT World (25 July 2020)

The US House of Representatives have just passed legislation that would repeal the Trump administration’s controversial ‘anti-Muslim’ travel ban, in what has been called the first Muslim civil rights bill in US history. This bill would outright prohibit any future president from using religious discrimination as grounds for restricting immigration. As a symbolic victory for Muslim Americans and civil rights groups, this measure is also a way to keep public pressure on for a future rollback of the policy. 

 “Married Couple Affected by Muslim Travel Ban, Pandemic Constraints” NPR (27 July 2020)

NPR speaks with a married couple, forced into a long-distance relationship because of a Trump administration travel ban on Muslim countries and the recent pandemic travel restrictions.

The Reconversion of Hagia Sophia


“Hagia Sophia: There is nothing Islamic about ideologized opportunism” Arab News (7 July 2020)

While the Turkish President’s decree to reconvert Hagia Sophia to a mosque is clearly motivated by political reasons, this author contends that Erdogan’s decision is also highly un-Islamic. Such behavior exhibited by Erdogan contradicts Islam’s tolerance towards other religions. Moreover, the author posits that Erdogan’s behaviour is deliberately provocative and draws parallels from past events in Islamic history.

“Was Erdogan right to declare the Hagia Sophia a mosque?” Middle East Eye (15 July 2020)

An opinion piece considering Turkey’s President Erdogan’s recent decision to assign Hagia Sophia mosque status - and whether by doing so, Erdogan is a step closer to winning the region’s leaders legitimacy contest.  

 “Erdogan plays out Islamic ‘Reconquista’ with Hagia Sophia as Backdrop” Al-Monitor (15 July 2020)

President Erdogan’s decree to reconvert Hagia Sophia into a mosque could be perceived as the Turkish Reconquista. While Erdogan’s decision is a political move aimed to reinvigorate his standing domestically, his actions are overall telling of his forceful claim for the global leadership of Muslims.

 “Hagia Sophia, Islamism and Secularism in Turkey” Berkeley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, Georgetown University (17 July 2020) 

For many of Erdogan’s supporters, the Turkish president’s decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia into a mosque is symbolic of Turkey’s re-Islamization or the counter-revolution against the legacy of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. While the erosion of Turkey’s secular status leads to more challenges faced by Christians and other non-Muslim citizens, there are still reasons to be optimistic about the future of secularism in Turkey. The rise of populist Islam endorsed by the regime is triggering a reaction: a secularist new generation.

“Why is Hagia Sophia’s Re(Conversion) into a Mosque Bad for Muslims?” Berkeley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, Georgetown University (23 July 2020) 

Hagia Sophia’s re-conversion is detrimental to Muslims because of the following reasons: firstly, the move undermines Islam’s legacy of tolerance towards minorities, next, this decision will fuel Islamophobia across the world and endanger Muslim minorities, and finally, Ergodan’s decree contributes to religious nationalism.

 “In Pictures: Hagia Sophia Opens for Muslim Worship” BBC News (24 July 2020)

This photo essay documents the Friday prayers that were held at the Hagia Sophia for the first time since it was turned into a museum 85 years ago.

“Hagia Sophia Friday prayer: full transcript of the sermon” TRT World (24 July 2020)

This is the full transcript of the first Friday prayer sermon since Hagia Sophia’s reconversion into a mosque.

 “Hagia Sophia is still symbolic of Christianity and Islam’s shared history” Middle East Eye (31 July 2020)

This piece provides a brief political history of the Hagia Sophia as well as detailed descriptions of the evolution of the building’s construction since the fourth century.

COVID-19   


“COVID-19 Cancels the Islamic Pilgrimage, Grounding a Lifelong Dream for some N.C. Muslims” INDY Week (8th July 2020)

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Saudi government has cancelled the annual Islamic pilgrimage of hajj. According to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics, close to 75% of hajj pilgrims came from abroad and nearly 500 of them were from the United States. 

Arts and Popular Culture


“A fight for the soul of Islam” Qantara (17 July 2020)

A new film, Baamum Nafi (Nafi’s Father) by Senagalese filmmaker Mamadou Dia demonstrates how violent Islamist fundamentalism could enter Senegal, just as it has in Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. According to Dia, not only was the film made to undermine the assumption of a singular Muslim identity, but it was also intended to generate a debate about the subject of extremism within Senegal

 “The trouble with Ramy: How the award-winning TV show has failed Arab Americans” Middle East Eye (20 July 2020)

Joseph Fahim gives an in-depth review of Ramy Youssef’s comedy series, which has just been renewed by Hulu for a third season.

“Netflix cancels production of Turkish show after LGBT character row” Middle East Eye (21 July 2020)

Staff on the TV show ‘If Only’ say Turkish authorities refused a filming license over the presence of an LGBT character. LGBT representation in TV shows and films has received a mixed reception in Turkey recently.

“Far from Mecca: Globalizing the Muslim Caribbean” (Podcast interview) New Books Network (13 July 2020)

Dr. Aliya Khan, an assistant professor of English and Afroamerican and African Studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, has written a new book titled Far From Mecca: Globalizing the Muslim Caribbean. The book examines the archive of autobiography, literature, music, and public celebrations in Guyana and Trinidad, offering an analysis of the ways Islam became integral to the Caribbean. In this podcast, Dr. Khan speaks about her reasons for writing her book and she also explains how her research reconstructs the academic discourse on slavery in the British West Indies

“The woman forced to flee her country for rapping” BBC News (19 July 2020)

BBC World Service reporter Faranak Amidi speaks to Justina, who faced prison in Iran for rapping and now lives in exile in Georgia. Iran’s Shia Muslim clerics believe that a woman’s singing voice can be erotic, and many have been sentenced to prison for singing in public, or publishing their work on social media.

“Teaching Toddlers an Alternative to Toilet Paper” Forbes (10 July 2020)

In the midst of a global pandemic and a widespread shortage of toilet paper, Yousfa Janjua took this opportunity to teach her children an alternative cleaning process by writing My First Muslim Potty Book. Through her book, Yousfa aims to provide visibility to Muslim experiences that help shape the budding identities of children in the Muslim community. In the process, she hopes to counter the negative imagery that overwhelms mainstream media with the greater truth and Muslim reality. 

 “Muslim beauty pageant created by Bexley resident touts modesty” The Columbus Dispatch (27 July 2020)

Maghrib Shahid, the owner of Chimiwear, a modest clothing collection, created the Miss Muslimah USA pageant to break down beauty stereotypes and to celebrate modest women who wear hijab. 

 “Beyond the Burkini: How there’s more to modest swimwear than meets the eye” Middle East Eye (27 July 2020)

This article discusses varying concepts of modesty, personal comfort and the increasing popularity of the burkini through a series of interviews with several Muslim women based within the Middle East and Europe.

“‘Ramy’ is the first Muslim American sitcom to receive an Emmy nomination” CNN (28 July 2020)

Hulu’s ‘Ramy’ was nominated for outstanding lead actor and outstanding comedy directing in a comedy series. ‘Ramy’ becomes the first Muslim American sitcom to recieve an Emmy nomination. Ramy Youssef, the co-creator and star of the sitcom hopes that the show’s success will open doors for others to continue exploring the vast Muslim American experience.

“Couple create interactive Muslim map of Poland to show the many faces of Polish Islam” The First News (2nd August 2020)

A Polish couple have made an interactive map of Poland, marking sites and communities connected with Islam that demonstrate that there is more to the country than Tartars when it comes to the Muslim faith.

Religious Thought and Practice


“Reclaiming the Path of Moderation in Islam” National Review (14 July 2020)

In light of the rising tide of Islamic nationalism threatening the survival of Middle Eastern pluralism, this author argues that a return to sound Quranic principles is the best way to defeat pseudo-religious fundamentalists. Through an analysis of Islamic history as well as the Qur’an, the author posits that the goals of fundamentalists are very much inspired by power as opposed to the teachings of Islam.

“Iftar con arroz y frijoles: Latinos Embracing Islam in the Age of Trump” Chicago Monitor (16 July 2020)

This article focuses on the experiences of several Latino Muslim individuals from Chicago. Between the Muslim Ban, the deportation crisis at the Mexican Border and the xenophobic rhetoric delivered routinely from the White House, Latino Muslims reflect upon the challenges of navigating political debates and stigmas from within both Muslim and Latino communities.

 “Scaled-down Hajj pilgrimage to start on July 29: Saudi officials” Al Jazeera (21 July 2020)

This year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia will be scaled back dramatically, as only 1,000 people will be able to take part in the pilgrimage and will need to be quarantined after the event.

“In Pictures: Muslims Around the World Celebrate Eid al-Adha” News 18 (1st August 2020)

A series of images from New Delhi to Kabul and Sarajevo demonstrate how Eid al-Adha is celebrated globally. 

 “Unable to travel to Mecca, Muslim Community holds Drive-Thru Hajj” NPR (30 July 2020)

Since the coronavirus pandemic has prompted Saudia Arabia to limit access to a small number of Saudis and foreigners living inside the kingdom, Mona Eldadah, the creative director of an Islamic nonprofit (New Muslim Initiative), created a miniature version of the hajj done by car. 

Women, Gender, and Sexuality


“What Mainstream Literature Still Needs to Get Right About Muslim Women” Bookriot (14 July 2020) 

Through an analysis of the female Muslim characters in Nadeem Aslam’s Maps for Lost Lovers and Zoe Ferraris’ Finding Nouf, this writer concludes that authors who write about Muslim women must stop seeing them as a monolithic group with similar interests, morals, and identities. Such stereotypes are harmful to Muslim communities outside the Arab world who may be struggling with maintaining a religious identity within their individual self without falling prey to the concept of Arab dominance.

 “The unseen Muslim women of Hindi Cinema” The Indian Express (11 July 2020)

In the history of Hindi cinema, the character of the Muslim woman has made rare appearances. Even in the few instances where Muslim women are shown, they are often portrayed as ruthless co-conspirators or vulnerable and frequently exoticized figures. Although Muslim women across strata have been making their voices heard and defining their own political identity as Indian citizens in the past few months, for a meaningful reflection of this reality in cinema, Muslim women will have to write their own stories on-screen too.

 “Through sci-fi and fantasy, Muslim women authors are building new worlds” Religion News Service (RNS) (16 July 2020)

In recent years, Muslim women have quietly taken the speculative fiction publishing industry by storm, earning acclaimed reviews with fantasy and science fiction narratives that upend both the genre’s historic lack of diversity and popular depictions of women and Islam. 

“Generations project celebrates diversity of Muslim women in Canada” Salt Wire (21 July 2020)

When Alia Youssef, a freelance photographer based in Toronto struggled to find authentic portrayals of Muslims in the media, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Her latest project, Generations, Youssef handed the microphone over to Muslim families in Canada, and specifically Muslim women only, so they could tell their own stories. In Generations, Youssef took family portraits that included multiple generations of women from each family.

Race Relations and Racial Representation in Muslim Communities


“The Conversation: Islam’s anti-racist message from the seventh century still resonates today” Salt Lake Tribune (6th July 2020) 

In the Farewell Address, the Prophet Muhammad spoke of racial equality, a message that reverberated through the early Islamic society that was divided by tribal affiliations and notions of ethnic superiority. In light of the racial tensions and violence occurring in the United States, the Prophet’s message is seen to create a special moral and ethical mandate for American Muslims to support anti-racism protest movements.

“At the doorstep of Muslim America: Finding Unity of Purpose Within A Diverse Faith Community” Milwaukee Syndicate (13 July 2020)

Since the killing of George Floyd, Muslim Americans have mostly shown solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Multiple national and regional Muslim civil rights and faith groups have also come to acknowledge that Black people are often marginalized within the broader Muslim community. This article takes a closer look at the proximity and complex relations that different sections of America’s Muslim community have with law enforcement and with the Black Lives Matter movement.

“On White privilege and Islam” The Daily Star (16 July 2020) 

In this review of The Invisible Muslim: Journeys through Whiteness and Islam, written by Medina Tenour Whiteman, the reviewer applauds the frankness in Whiteman’s acknowledgment and examination of her privilege. According to the reviewer, The Invisible Muslim is a celebration of diversity in the Muslim world and it offers a topical read to better understand anti-racism conversations that are prevalent in contemporary global discourse. 

“Un-Holyland? An Arab Muslim Reckoning with Racism” NPR (22 July 2020)

Majdi Wadi, a Palestinian American and CEO of the Holy Land brand, is facing business problems because his daughter’s unsavory social media posts from 2012 and 2016 have come to light. To make amends, Wadi reached out to Imam Makram El-Amin from Masjid An-Nur, a Black Muslim leader in Minneapolis. NPR speaks with both Wadi and El-Amin about this controversy. To get more context for the dynamic between Arab Muslims and Black Muslims, NPR also speaks to Rami Nashashibi, a Palestinian American Muslim community organizer who has been trying to get corner store owners to be more integrated into the Black neighborhoods that they are running their businesses in. 

“Nadirah Pierre’s Instagram Comedy Hails Representation for Black Muslim Women” Teen Vogue (21 July 2020) 

Successful comedienne Nadirah Pierre is paving the way for young Muslim women to understand that they are allowed to set unconventional goals and take up space. For Nadirah, she strives to represent a segment of entertainment that shows a Muslim who actually loves their faith and is comfortable with wearing their hijab whether people understand it, like it or not.

Islamophobia


“Prevent reinforces stereotypes and leads Muslim students to self-censor: Report" Middle East Eye (15 July 2020)

A new study has revealed that the UK government’s Prevent counterterrorism strategy has reinforced negative stereotypes about Islam and Muslims and caused students to self-censor on campus. 

“Islamophobia: It’s worse than you think” Wisconsin Muslim Journal (7 July 2020)

In this interview, Dr. Nazita Lajervardi, an assistant professor at Michigan State University speaks about her book Outsiders at Home and the pervasiveness of Islamophobia in America.