A faith-based aid revolution in the Muslim world?
Every year, somewhere between US$200 billion and $1 trillion are spent in “mandatory” alms and voluntary charity across the Muslim world, Islamic financial analysts estimate. At the low end of the estimate, this is 15 times more than global humanitarian aid contributions* in 2011. Islam requires Muslims to give a portion of their wealth to charity […]
Recognizing World War II Muslims that sheltered fleeing Jews
WASHINGTON, April 27, 2017 – One of the little-known stories of the Holocaust is that of Muslims who risked their lives to save Jews from the Nazis. Fortunately, on this year’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, more attention is being paid to this important record of bravery and idealism. At Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, D.C.., Holocaust […]
Who killed my friend Yameen Rasheed?
On Sunday morning, Maldivians woke up to the shocking news of the brutal killing of the 29-year-old prominent blogger, Yameen Rasheed. Over four years ago, in October 2012, Maldivians were similarly shocked by the brutal murder of a prominent reformist religious scholar and member of parliament, Afrasheem Ali. Both Rasheed and Ali died after multiple […]
In ‘historic’ move, Trump envoy hosts interfaith meeting
During summit with Jason Greenblatt, Jewish, Muslim and Christian clergymen vow to advance peace and to ‘reject all incitement to violence’ By Raphael Ahren Jason Greenblatt, the US administration’s Special Envoy for International Negotiations, with members of the Council of Religious Institutions in the Holy Land at a gathering at the US Consulate-General in Jerusalem, […]
Pakistan’s Sindh province outlaws forced conversions
A province in Pakistan has passed a new law, with provision for life sentence, against forced religious conversions following criticism over protection of minorities in the country. The new bill, passed by legislators in Sindh on Thursday, mandates a 21-day period for adults to consider their decision to convert and forbid minors from choosing another […]
Islam and politics: Indonesia’s identity crisis
The blasphemy charges against Jakarta’s governor will put Indonesia’s democracy and national identity to the test. Modern Indonesia is testimony to the ability of transition democracies to construct a constitutional framework that can guarantee equality, security and freedom from discrimination for all citizens. Since 1998’s Reformasi (the period of transition after the fall of Indonesia’s […]
Sisi calls for religious reforms against ‘extremists’
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has called for religious reforms to counter “extremists” in a speech to Muslim clerics. Sisi on Wednesday urged scholars from Al-Azhar, the highest centre of Sunni Muslim learning, to rethink religious discourse and “purge it of flaws” that negatively affect Islam. “I fear that we have not until now found […]
Executive Summary of the Marrakesh Declaration on the Rights of Religious Minorities in Predominantly Muslim Majority Communities
In the Name of God, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate Executive Summary of the Marrakesh Declaration on the Rights of Religious Minorities in Predominantly Muslim Majority Communities 25th-27th January 2016 WHEREAS, conditions in various parts of the Muslim World have deteriorated dangerously due to the use of violence and armed struggle as a tool for settling […]