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?
“Irish America,” if I may use that term, has a problem with racism. As Niall O’Dowd of Irish Central (as discussed here) recently pointed out: “The belief among many [Irish Americans]… is that America today is fading fast because of overly intrusive government, too many handouts, minority mollycoddling, and a fear of saying the wrong thing.”…… Continue reading The Irish Were Once the Muslims, Mexicans, Haitians and Africans: That’s Why I’m Anti-Racist
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
The Independent published an important piece on Pope Francis’ effort to combat Islamophobia and promote the dialogue of civilizations between Muslims and Christians. Two people close to Pope Francis – Antonio Spadaro and Marcelo Figueroa (a Protestant) – wrote a joint article in La Civiltà Cattolica, a journal published by Jesuit priests in Rome and…… Continue reading Top Allies of Pope Francis Denounce Islamophobic Views of Some U.S. Christians
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
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
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
Before you read any further, note this: I understand that not all Trump fans condone Islamophobia, understood broadly as a set of assumptions by which an individual or group holds and promotes anti-Islam or anti-Muslim sentiments. Here is a case in point – some of my friends voted for Trump. Do I think they are…… Continue reading What If “Moderate” Trump Fans Were Asked To Condemn Islamophobia?
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
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
In the aftermath of the NYC bombs, Donald Trump called for increased racial profiling of Muslims. “Our local police – they know who a lot of these [Muslims] are. They are afraid to do anything about it because they don’t want to be accused of profiling,” Trump said on Fox News on Monday. Trump pointed to how…… Continue reading After NYC Bombs, We Need to Talk About Islamo-racism
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?
A new CNN piece by Dean Obeidallah cites my article “Saluting Muslim American Patriots.” Obeidallah wrote the following: Muslims fought to establish this nation, serving in the Revolutionary Army, fighting alongside George Washington, according to sociologist, Craig Considine, who assayed Muslims’ contributions in war in an article for the Huffington Post. The most famous was Peter Buckminster,…… Continue reading Cited in “Trump’s Failure on ‘Heeby Jobbies'”
Support for Donald Trump is surging across the United States. This is particularly troubling because in recent weeks, he has called for banning Muslim immigration, shutting down mosques, spying on Muslims, making Muslims carry ID badges, and a few other blatantly Islamophobic things. It’s like Hitler, American-style. Clearly, Trump and his supporters (maybe not all of…… Continue reading What Trump and His Supporters Can Learn From Muslim Leaders
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
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