Category: Politics

Politics

The Politics of “Blasphemy” – Pakistan Blocks Wikipedia Over “Sacrilegious” Content

Dr. Craig Considine2 Comments

Censorship is increasing again in Pakistan. Media outlets are reporting that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has banned Wikipedia for hosting “sacrilegious” content that it deems to be “blasphemous.” In previous years, the PTA has blocked social media entities like Facebook and YouTube for similar reasons. Pakistan’s war on knowledge is a personal one for…… Continue reading The Politics of “Blasphemy” – Pakistan Blocks Wikipedia Over “Sacrilegious” Content

Erdoğan Celebrates the “Second Fall” of the Hagia Sophia
Politics

Erdoğan Celebrates the “Second Fall” of the Hagia Sophia

Dr. Craig Considine

The Orthodox Times and several other media outlets covered a recent speech in which Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the president of Turkey, once again celebrated the Hagia Sophia’s conversion into a mosque. The Turkish courts issued a ruling in July 2020 that effectively turned the Hagia Sophia from an interfaith museum into a mosque. Many saw…… Continue reading Erdoğan Celebrates the “Second Fall” of the Hagia Sophia

Politics

Historic Bi-Partisan U.S. Delegation Bolsters Abraham Accords

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

A bi-partisan delegation of US senators recently returned from Bahrain, Israel, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The purpose of their trip was to strengthen the Abraham Accords and to pave new roads for deeper collaboration in the near future. Senator Jacky Rosen (Democrat – Nevada), one of the leaders of the delegation alongside…… Continue reading Historic Bi-Partisan U.S. Delegation Bolsters Abraham Accords

Politics

Persecution of Christians Higher Than Ever – Here Are the “Hotspots”

Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Open Doors, an international organization that has covered Christian persecution over the last thirty years, recently issued its 2023 World Watch List. The key findings of their latest study are troubling, but not surprising. North Korea is ranked as the worst place in the world to be a Christian. The next twenty countries listed are…… Continue reading Persecution of Christians Higher Than Ever – Here Are the “Hotspots”

Politics

It is Time to Speak Up Against Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws

Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

The Pakistani National Assembly has amended one of its blasphemy laws to increase the punishment for insulting Prophet Muhammad’s companions, wives, and family members, and other sacred personalities. Offenders can face up to 10 years in prison. These kind of laws often target Christians in the form of mob violence. Ahmadi Muslims also are frequently…… Continue reading It is Time to Speak Up Against Pakistan’s Blasphemy Laws

Politics

Hagia Sophia and “Whataboutism”

Dr. Craig Considine5 Comments

What is “whataboutism”? Oxford Dictionaries defines it as: The technique or practice of responding to an accusation or difficult question by making a counter-accusation or raising a different issue. An example of this Soviet propaganda technique is when a headline that reads “The Hagia Sophia should remain a museum” is met with the comment, “What…… Continue reading Hagia Sophia and “Whataboutism”

Politics

Do U.S. Muslims Condemn Terrorism?

Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Recently, Muslims in the United States have been accused of being sympathetic to – or outright supportive of – acts of terrorism carried out in the name of Islam. For instance, a 2018 report issued by the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security pictured Muslims as potential domestic terrorist threats. President Donald Trump…… Continue reading Do U.S. Muslims Condemn Terrorism?

Politics

Trump Promotes Christian Extremism and White Supremacy on Twitter

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

Once again, Donald Trump has legitimized Christian extremism, White supremacy and the far-right by retweeting anti-Muslim videos posted by Britain First. a far-right extremist political organization based in the U.K. In recent years, Britain First has threatened “militant direct action” against Muslims. The group also operates a “defense force” and gives anti-Muslim activists “self-defense training”…… Continue reading Trump Promotes Christian Extremism and White Supremacy on Twitter

Politics

Slavery is Alive and Well in Libya

Dr. Craig Considine2 Comments

Slavery is not a thing of the past. Fact. There is a modern-day slave market in Libya where African migrants are caught in a brutal chain of human trafficking, as Reuters reported. Narciso Contreras, a Pulitzer Price-winning photographer, spoke to migrants turned Libyan slaves (as documented in the Reuters piece). Contreras stated: “What I found…… Continue reading Slavery is Alive and Well in Libya

Politics

Politics of Grieving – Do Nigerian Muslim Lives Matter?

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

A suicide attack at a mosque in Mubi, northeastern Nigeria, has killed at least 50 people, Al Jazeera has said. The explosion occurred during morning prayers. No group has yet claimed responsibility, but Boko Haram carries out regular attacks in the region. Some 20,000 people have been killed in Boko Haram’s eight-year insurgency. The BBC…… Continue reading Politics of Grieving – Do Nigerian Muslim Lives Matter?

Politics

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Says Rohingya Face Genocide

Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Wake up, people. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (Washington, D.C.) and Fortify Rights, an NGO that investigates human rights violations in Southeast Asia, said in a recent report that Myanmar’s state security forces appear to have “targeted the Rohingya group with several of the enumerated acts in the law of genocide.” Genocide. In 2017. The…… Continue reading U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Says Rohingya Face Genocide

Politics · Religion

The Christian Double Standard on Religious Violence

Dr. Craig Considine4 Comments

Imagine…. Imagine if people blamed Christianity for this act of violence. Imagine if people searched frantically through the Bible in the hope of digging up verses which could have justified this action (which is entirely possible). Imagine if people used this attack to pass legislation banning all Christians from entering the country. Imagine if people…… Continue reading The Christian Double Standard on Religious Violence

Politics

The Muslim Nation as a Civic Nation

Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Scholars have dedicated much time and effort to unpack the various kinds of nation-building projects, but the distinction between “civic nation” versus “ethnic nation” is perhaps the most widely-employed conceptual building block in the study of nationhood and national identity. While these types of nations share common elements like historical territory and common culture, they…… Continue reading The Muslim Nation as a Civic Nation

Politics

The Rohingya Are the New Palestinians

Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

The systematic persecution of Palestinians has long occupied a place in the consciousness of the ummah, the global community of Muslims. Muslims worldwide have watched for decades as Palestinians have been repeatedly displaced, subjected to disproportionate collective punishment, and denied statehood. While the Israeli occupation continues to stir up feelings of anger and powerlessness, another ethnic…… Continue reading The Rohingya Are the New Palestinians

Politics

Catholic Bishop in CAR Gives Refuge to 2,000 Muslims Fleeing Christian Militias

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Juan José Aguirre Munoz, a Spanish-born Catholic bishop in the Central African Republic (CAR), has given refuge to 2,000 Muslims who are living in fear of attacks from a mainly Christian militia. Munoz’s church compound is based in the south-eastern city of Bangassou. CAR has been experiencing sectarian violence since 2013, when the largely Muslim…… Continue reading Catholic Bishop in CAR Gives Refuge to 2,000 Muslims Fleeing Christian Militias

Politics

It’s Time for World Leaders to Finally Stop the Slow Genocide of Rohingya Muslims

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

Speaking recently to pilgrims and tourists in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, Pope Francis called for an end to the violent persecution of the minority Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. The Pope, who has promoted the “dialogue of civilizations” and the “culture of encounters,” continues to be a vocal advocate of religious freedom and critic of…… Continue reading It’s Time for World Leaders to Finally Stop the Slow Genocide of Rohingya Muslims

Politics

Presidential Silence is Complicity

Dr. Craig Considine2 Comments

Mark Dayton, the governor of Minnesota, denounced the recent bomb attack on a mosque in Minnesota as a “terrible, dastardly, cowardly” act of terrorism. The explosion at the Dar Al Farooq mosque in Bloomington was caused by an improvised explosive device as congregants began to gather for prayers. The FBI has taken the lead on the…… Continue reading Presidential Silence is Complicity

Politics

“The Wrong Kind of Christians” Face Deportation in America

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The Wrong Kind of Muslim: An Untold Story of Persecution and Perseverance is one of my favorite books of all time. Its author, Qasim Rashid, a friend and brother of mine, journeys into the heart of terrorism to unearth the untold story of those silence by Islamic militants. Rashid uncovers the inspiring untold story of…… Continue reading “The Wrong Kind of Christians” Face Deportation in America

Politics

These Anti-Sharia Protests Are Based on Lies and Conspiracy Theories

Dr. Craig Considine14 Comments

A brief word about these anti-sharia protests happening tomorrow across 28 cities in the U.S.. In short, these protests are totally bogus. The facts show that so-called infiltration of sharia in the American legal system is a non-existent problem or threat. To date, there is not a single Muslim organization calling for sharia to trump the…… Continue reading These Anti-Sharia Protests Are Based on Lies and Conspiracy Theories

Politics

Fact-check – “Radical Islamic Terrorism” Poses a Very Small Threat to America

Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

President Trump tweeted yesterday that “The threat from radical Islamic terrorism is very real, just look at what is happening in Europe and the Middle East.” His comment suggests that “radical Islamic terrorism” is the greatest threat to the United States and that his administration will take steps to eradicate this danger from the world. The tweet…… Continue reading Fact-check – “Radical Islamic Terrorism” Poses a Very Small Threat to America

Politics

Alexandre Bissonnette: Another White Supremacist Terrorist Described as a “Lone Wolf”

Dr. Craig Considine13 Comments

“Lone wolf.” “College student.” “White man.” “Shooter.” “Far-right.” “Suspect.” These words have been deployed to describe Alexandre Bissonnette (pictured), who recently killed six Muslims inside a mosque in Quebec. His social media activities show that he trolled refugees, supported Trump and other far-right nationalists, and fancied himself as a Christian crusader. One word in particular…… Continue reading Alexandre Bissonnette: Another White Supremacist Terrorist Described as a “Lone Wolf”

Islamic State · Politics

Trump’s “Muslim Ban” – Another Victory For ISIS

Dr. Craig Considine10 Comments

By now you have heard the news of President Trump’s “Muslim ban,” which puts a freeze on refugee arrivals and visa requests from seven predominantly Muslim countries. The ban is outlined in an Executive Order, ironically titled “Protection of the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” which plays right into the hands of…… Continue reading Trump’s “Muslim Ban” – Another Victory For ISIS

Politics · Religion

Religious Pluralism and Common Sense on Trump’s Inauguration Day

Dr. Craig Considine3 Comments

Harris Zafar, a public speaker, writer and national spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, visited Rice University hours before Donald Trump took the presidential oath of office. Speaking in front of thirty-five students in “Sociology of Religion,” a course which I guide, Zafar immediately noted the symbolic timing of his visit. There he stood,…… Continue reading Religious Pluralism and Common Sense on Trump’s Inauguration Day

Interfaith · Politics

Trump’s Benediction Incomplete Without Islam

Dr. Craig Considine2 Comments

Like many of you, I watched the Inauguration. The one thing that stood out most to me is the benediction, or blessing, after President Trump took the oath of office. A rabbi spoke first, followed by a reverend and then a bishop. Judaism was represented and Christianity too. These religious leaders talked about God, a…… Continue reading Trump’s Benediction Incomplete Without Islam

Islamophobia · Politics

Islamophobia and Catholicophobia – Everything Old is New Again

Dr. Craig Considine3 Comments

100 years ago, Americans talked about Catholics the way they talk about Muslims today. That is the title of a new article by German Lopez of Vox. Time and time again, polls and surveys have found that the majority of Americans have unfavorable views of Islam. Consider the following: 1) Muslims are viewed by the…… Continue reading Islamophobia and Catholicophobia – Everything Old is New Again

Politics

The Burqa – To Ban or Not to Ban?

Dr. Craig Considine3 Comments

How much of a threat can fully veiled Muslim women pose? Yasmeen Aftab Ali poses this question at the beginning of her new article in Pakistan Today. In recent years, countries such as France, Bulgaria, Egypt, Chad and Morocco have banned the burqa on the grounds that it poses a “security concern” or that the…… Continue reading The Burqa – To Ban or Not to Ban?

Politics

Prominent Organization Lists Trump as Threat To Human Rights

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Human Rights Watch, a prominent American-founded international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights, has recently published an article on the threat that President-elect Donald Trump’s administration poses to human rights. The organization said in a 687-page report: “Donald Trump’s election as US president after a campaign fomenting hatred and intolerance, and the rising influence…… Continue reading Prominent Organization Lists Trump as Threat To Human Rights

Islamic State · Islamophobia · Politics

Trump’s Win is a Victory For ISIS

Dr. Craig Considine3 Comments

Yesterday, an Uber driver named Maurice dropped me off at Rice University, where I teach a course called “Muslims in American Society.” “Everyone should take that class,” Maurice told me, “It’s more important now than ever.” Maurice said that Muslims are good people, “just like you and I.” We proceeded to talk about the victory…… Continue reading Trump’s Win is a Victory For ISIS

Politics

Trump’s “Bowl of Skittles” Linked to Nazi Propaganda

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

By now, you have probably heard about Donald Trump Jr.’s tweet comparing a bowl of Skittles to Syrian refugees. As The Intercept has pointed out, this kind of rhetoric has deep roots in anti-Semitic Nazi propaganda. The Intercept writes: The concept dates back at least to 1938 and a children’s book called Der Giftpilz, or…… Continue reading Trump’s “Bowl of Skittles” Linked to Nazi Propaganda

Politics · Quoted

New Documentary to Shed Light on Muslims in the U.S. Military

Dr. Craig Considine2 Comments

Antonia Bloomberg, who writes for The Huffington Post, cited an article I wrote last year in her new piece titled “Documentary To Shed Light On Untold Stories Of Muslims In The U.S. Military.” She wrote:

Politics

Would Trump Allow the Call To Prayer in the White House?

Dr. Craig Considine4 Comments

Qasim Rashid, an Ahmadi American, is my good friend. Years ago, his family fled Pakistan, a country that deems Ahmadis as “non-Muslim”. Ahmadis in Pakistan are persecuted to the point where they are openly murdered without any ramifications for the murderers. Ahmadis cannot refer to their places of worship as “mosques”. They also cannot use the term assalamalaikum,…… Continue reading Would Trump Allow the Call To Prayer in the White House?

Politics · Religion

“Muslim Sounding Names” and the Orlando Massacre

Dr. Craig Considine2 Comments

Written for Mvslim Multiple sources have now confirmed that Omar Mateen, the shooter of the Orlando massacre, was himself gay. He often visited Pulse, the popular gay nightclub that he committed the massacre in. Eyewitness reports suggest that Mateen would get so drunk at the bar that bouncers would have to kick him out. He…… Continue reading “Muslim Sounding Names” and the Orlando Massacre

Politics · Religion · Sociology

Dear America – Check Your Christian Privilege

Dr. Craig Considine4 Comments

A few months ago, when I was teaching Sociology of Religion at Rice University, the topic of Ted Cruz and Christian privilege came up in our classroom. In response to questions about his commitment to conservatism, Cruz stated: “I’m a Christian first, American second, conservative third and Republican forth. I’ll tell ya, there are a whole…… Continue reading Dear America – Check Your Christian Privilege

Politics · Religion

Reclaiming “In The Name Of Islam” – Muslim American Contributions To Charity And Healthcare

Dr. Craig Considine2 Comments

“In the name of Islam.” These words were uttered by Edward Archer, a man in Philadelphia who shot a police officer three times. Thankfully, the police officer survived, but a few more things have been lost in the coverage of this unfortunate event. There are over 1 billion Muslims worldwide. The overwhelming majority of these people are peace-loving.…… Continue reading Reclaiming “In The Name Of Islam” – Muslim American Contributions To Charity And Healthcare

Politics

Jewish Extremists Torch One of Christendom’s Most Important Churches

Dr. Craig Considine11 Comments

Here’s another important story getting hardly – if any attention – in media. On an erly Thursday morning in June 2015, “Jewish extremists” torched the Church of the Multiplication in Tabgha, near the Sea of Galilee in Israel. The arsonists wrote graffiti in Hebrew on that walls that read, “Pagans” and “False idols will be…… Continue reading Jewish Extremists Torch One of Christendom’s Most Important Churches

Politics

“Radiation Device to Kill Muslim Americans” – The KKK Terrorism Case Nobody Is Talking About

Dr. Craig Considine4 Comments

No big deal. That (pictured above) is just an x-ray device that shoots out deadly levels of radiation. Ever seen it before? It was the brainchild of an Islamophobic, Ku Klux Klan-linked man named Eric Feight. He wanted to use it to kill Muslim Americans in upstate New York. Have you ever heard of this story?…… Continue reading “Radiation Device to Kill Muslim Americans” – The KKK Terrorism Case Nobody Is Talking About

Politics

It’s Time For A Million Man March in Solidarity With Muslims

Dr. Craig Considine9 Comments

My fellow Americans, With Islamophobia rising in the U.S. and with Donald Trump promoting Hitler-esque policies towards Muslims, we must make a strong stand. The time is ripe for Americans of all backgrounds to join in solidarity with their Muslim neighbors. It’s time for a million man march in Washington, DC. Over the last few weeks, I have watched this country spiral out…… Continue reading It’s Time For A Million Man March in Solidarity With Muslims

Politics

Trump, America’s Hitler

Dr. Craig Considine13 Comments

3:45 am. That’s what time I woke up this morning. I couldn’t sleep. There were no loud neighbors, no noisy traffic outside, and no drama in my life to keep me awake. As lame as it might sound, Donald Trump was keeping me awake. That’s right, the American demagogue, America’s Hitler. “Come on, Craig!” is probably…… Continue reading Trump, America’s Hitler

Politics

Tashfeen Malik Vs. Robert Dear – Both Kill in God’s Name, But Only One is a “Terrorist”

Dr. Craig Considine4 Comments

So, “news” comes out that Tashfeen Malik, an attacker from San Bernardino, pledged allegiance to ISIS and its so-called “caliph.” This is now “breaking news.” CNN flashes “terrorism” right across its homepage. Go figure. And yet just one week or so ago, Robert Dear, the Planned Parenthood attacker, killed in the name of Christianity. Dear…… Continue reading Tashfeen Malik Vs. Robert Dear – Both Kill in God’s Name, But Only One is a “Terrorist”

Outreach · Politics

Video: Here’s Why #IStandWithAhmadis

Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

Transcript: This world of ours is filled with horrible, horrible things, and sometimes these things manifest themselves through religion. Now, unless you’re hiding in some underground bunker, you’ll know that religious extremism and radicalism – combined with political initiatives – can do some pretty horrible things in this world. Now, there are people in this…… Continue reading Video: Here’s Why #IStandWithAhmadis

Politics

Why White Men Are “Gunmen” and Muslim Men Are “Terrorists”

Dr. Craig Considine1 Comment

“Racial grammar.” It’s not a word you hear every day in the U.S.A. That’s a shame because racial grammar explains a lot about race relations in America, especially in light of the Muslim versus non-Muslim binary. Muslims aren’t a race, it’s true, but that doesn’t mean that Muslims don’t face racism (See: “Muslims Aren’t A Race, So I…… Continue reading Why White Men Are “Gunmen” and Muslim Men Are “Terrorists”

Politics

Trump and ISIS Like To Use Torture. Washington and Muhammad Did Not.

Dr. Craig Considine3 Comments

Donald Trump recently told the world that he would absolutely use torture if he were the next President of the U.S. Actually, he stated that he would “approve more than that.” Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Donald Trump, the “going beyond torture” candidate for President. Whenever I think about torture, I turn to the late author Christopher Hitchens. Hitchens…… Continue reading Trump and ISIS Like To Use Torture. Washington and Muhammad Did Not.

Politics

Muslims Aren’t A Race, So I Can’t Be Racist. Right? Wrong.

Dr. Craig Considine11 Comments

“Nonsense.” That is what people say when I accuse them of being racist. Their argument goes something like this: “Muslims are not even a race, so how the hell could I even be racist? You’re an idiot.” Because Muslims are not a race, people believe that any type of violence or oppression directed towards them…… Continue reading Muslims Aren’t A Race, So I Can’t Be Racist. Right? Wrong.

Politics

The Paris Attack and My Racist Facebook “Friends”

Dr. Craig Considine6 Comments

“35 people dead in Paris. They don’t know what it is yet. Not sure if there were bombs.” That was the text message I received on Friday during my walk home from Rice University. Here we go again, I thought… My first reaction: the media will instantly assume Muslims carried out the attack, regardless of…… Continue reading The Paris Attack and My Racist Facebook “Friends”

Politics

America as a “Christian Nation” Doesn’t Ring Historically True

Dr. Craig Considine2 Comments

“America is a Christian nation” is one of the Christian right’s favorite slogans. Consider Ben Carson, a radical Christian and frontrunner for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. He believes that the United State’s founding documents prove that the American nation was founded upon Christian principles. What is worrying is that Carson is not alone in his beliefs. Televangelists,…… Continue reading America as a “Christian Nation” Doesn’t Ring Historically True

Islamic State · Politics

The Deafening Silence on the Genocide of Christians in the Middle East

Dr. Craig Considine2 Comments

                    A few weeks ago, I posted about the Genocide Initiative, a new interfaith movement calling on world leaders to classify ISIS’s actions in the Middle East as “genocide.” The Genocide Initiative has launched a petition on change.org that calls on political powers to unite and proclaim the…… Continue reading The Deafening Silence on the Genocide of Christians in the Middle East

History · Islamic State · Politics

Why Celebrating Columbus Day is Like Celebrating ISIS Day

Dr. Craig Considine5 Comments

My elementary school teachers brainwashed me. I am sure they would never admit to it, but it is true. I was taught that Christopher Columbus, the Catholic Italian explorer, discovered a “New World.” I – like millions of other naive American children – was told that he was a brave and curious hero who brought…… Continue reading Why Celebrating Columbus Day is Like Celebrating ISIS Day

Politics

The Difference Between “Anti-Islam” Patriots and Real Patriots

Dr. Craig Considine2 Comments

Muslims in America are bracing for a wave of anti-Islam mobs outside of their mosques on October 9 and 10. American bigots of various social backgrounds plan to utilize their Second Amendment right and arm themselves with deadly weapons in places where Muslims pray across the U.S.. This provocation, called “Global Rally For Humanity,” is a blatant act of intimidation…… Continue reading The Difference Between “Anti-Islam” Patriots and Real Patriots

Politics

Why Forgiving the Boston Bomber is the Right Thing to Do

Dr. Craig ConsidineLeave a comment

In Massachusetts federal court yesterday, Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokar Tsarnaev apologized to the victims and families that have been impacted by the bombs he set off. Tsarnaev, who is waiting his death sentence, stated: “I am sorry for the lives that I’ve taken, for the suffering that I’ve caused you, for the damage that I’ve done.…… Continue reading Why Forgiving the Boston Bomber is the Right Thing to Do

Politics

Saluting Muslim American Patriots

Dr. Craig Considine3 Comments

Published on Huffington Post Religion (April 10th 2015) The so-called “Islamic extremism” spreading across the Middle East has given new life to American patriotism. A YouGov poll from 2013 shows that 44 percent of American citizens question the loyalty that Muslims have to the U.S. The poll showed that older Americans and those who vote…… Continue reading Saluting Muslim American Patriots