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SearchToday in Islamophobia: Muslim students rally in Bangladesh denouncing the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the Australian parliament debates a motion to condemn China for human rights violations against the Uyghur community, and art and poetry carry some Rohingya Muslims away from trauma and pain in the story of artist Mohammed Nur. Our recommended read today is by Meagan Flynn on the struggles of one Northern Virginia Uyghur family whose relatives abroad face imprisonment and abuse at the hands of the Chinese State. This and more below.
International
Their Uyghur relatives are imprisoned in China. From Virginia, they plead for help
Family members in Northern Virginia — one of the largest diasporas of Uyghurs in the United States — are largely powerless to help them. Speaking out, even from here, can carry grave risks of reprisal by China, which is why many choose to stay silent. But some, like Kalbinur, have taken the risk, bringing their stories to the highest echelons of government. “Nobody wants to cry for anyone, but if it happens to you, what can you do?” Kalbinur said. “We can let people hear us, because back home nobody can.” read the complete article
For Rohingya Survivors, Art Bears Witness
Before he fled Myanmar in 2017, a witness to unspeakable horrors in his Rohingya village, Mohammed Nur would produce art in hiding, drawing on napkins and trash with bits of charcoal. Art, poetry readings and a university education were among many aspects of life that were not allowed for Rohingya Muslims like himself. Yet in this unlikeliest of places, Nur has finally achieved his long-held goal of becoming an artist. read the complete article
Muslims, students protest Indian PM's visit to Bangladesh
Muslims and student activists rallied in Bangladesh’s capital Friday to denounce the upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join the celebration of the country’s 50th anniversary of independence. Modi is due to arrive in Dhaka on March 26, which Bangladesh celebrates as its independence day. The protesters carried no banners and did not declare if they have any allegiance to any political parties. They took their shoes in their hands to show disrespect to Modi. They chanted anti-India and anti-Modi slogans, asking him not to come to Dhaka. read the complete article
United States
Biden rescinded the 'Muslim ban.' But many families remain stuck in the backlog
“I was so happy, so happy,” said Safieh Mohammadi, a U.S. green card holder who lives in Houston and has been separated for five years from her Iranian husband, Bahram, who is currently in Canada. “I started to actually do something since I knew that my husband was coming. So I went to shop, got a cover for my bed. I wanted to do something, you know, because I thought he's gonna come. But Biden’s reversal of one of Trump’s signature actions hasn’t resulted in a flood of airport reunions or any quick changes to his visa application. read the complete article
What should happen after we declare a genocide is occurring?
What happens after the United States announces that a genocide is occurring? Yazidis in Iraq were seeking an answer after the 2016 genocide declaration. Today, Uyghurs in China are asking the same question. Unfortunately, the short answer to date is nothing. Under U.S. law, declaring a genocide doesn’t obligate the U.S. to do anything. As a political matter, the Obama and Trump administrations treated genocide declarations as rhetorical rather than actual calls to action. The jury is out on whether the Biden administration will follow the same practice. read the complete article
Fairfax declines to add four Jewish, Muslim and Hindu holidays to calendar
The Fairfax County School Board declined Thursday night to add four Jewish, Muslim and Hindu holidays to the 2021-2022 calendar, voting instead to adopt 15 “Observance” days, on which students and staffers will not be penalized for taking time off. The decision, which followed months of debate, split the school board into factions and drew outrage from Washington-area religious leaders. The 15 days mark a wide variety of religious holidays, including Three Kings’ Day, Orthodox Christmas and Eid al-Adha. Also included on the list are the four holidays originally recommended as additions to the calendar by a Fairfax County Public Schools task force: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Diwali and Eid al-Fitr. read the complete article
Australia
Australian group takes fight to Facebook, saying platform is 'awash' with hateful Islamophobia
An Australian-Muslim rights organization is threatening legal action against Facebook after accusing the tech giant of allowing Islamophobia to proliferate online. The Australian Muslim Advocacy Network has been campaigning for Facebook to act against hate speech in the wake of the Christchurch massacre, saying the social media giant must take responsibility for the real-world harm and violence unmoderated hate speech causes. read the complete article
Myanmar
What's happening in Myanmar? Military coup and protests explained visually
Protesters want the military to relinquish power and release Aung San Suu Kyi, a civilian political leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner. She's been held in an undisclosed location since Feb. 1. The military has fiercely repressed protests. At least 235 people have been killed and more than 2,330, including some journalists, have been arrested in violent crackdowns by security forces. In addition to the violence, Myanmar is facing a serious economic crisis, with rising food and fuel prices stemming from the coup, according to the U.N. World Food Programme. Then there's China, which many protesters fear is supporting the coup because of its extensive business interests in Myanmar. Here's what you need to know about the coup, protests, and brutal crackdown, in addition to a brief look at the history of military conflict in the country. read the complete article
China
China: Parents of missing Uyghur children describe horror of family separation
The organization spoke to parents who have been completely cut off from their children – some as young as five years old – and cannot return to China due to the threat of being sent to a “re-education” internment camp. “China’s ruthless mass detention campaign in Xinjiang has put separated families in an impossible situation: children are not allowed to leave, but their parents face persecution and arbitrary detention if they attempt to return home to care for them,” said Alkan Akad, Amnesty International’s China Researcher. Amnesty International interviewed six exiled Uyghur families currently residing in Australia, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. The families, who left China prior to the intensification of the crackdown against Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in 2017, had not dreamed that their children would be prevented from joining them. read the complete article
France
France's Muslims outraged by decision to ban halal chicken slaughter
Muslim leaders in France have criticized a recent decision to ban the slaughter of poultry animals in line with Islamic principles ahead of the holy month of Ramadan. A joint statement issued by Paris Mosque director Chemseddine Hafez, Lyon Mosque director Kamel Kaptane and Evry Mosque director Khalil Maroun, says that the French Agriculture and Food Ministry’s circular sends a negative message to the large Muslim community in the country. Under the new rule, the Islamic slaughter of poultry animals will be banned in France from July 2021. The three administrators conveyed their concerns to the relevant ministry but did not receive any concrete results, the joint statement said. read the complete article