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SearchToday in Islamophobia: In the United Kingdom, Muslim MP’s are finding themselves under scrutiny, with some being allegedly “singled out” for their opposition to the controversial assisted dying bill, meanwhile in India, a court in Rajasthan has accepted a petition from a right-wing Hindu group claiming that the shrine of a revered Muslim Sufi saint and philosopher is sitting on top of a temple for the Hindu god, Shiva, and in the United States, the CAIR has called for added protections for U.S. Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar after Florida state Sen. Randy Fine issued an apparent threat against the two Muslim lawmakers. Our recommended read of the day is by Jason Wilson for the Guardian on how Donald Trump’s defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth has put bigoted anti-Muslim rhetoric at the center of several of his published books. This and more below:
United States
Trump Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth’s books foreground anti-Muslim rhetoric | Recommended Read
Donald Trump’s defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth, who has the crusader motto “deus vult” tattooed on his arm, has put bigoted anti-Muslim rhetoric at the center of several of his published books, according to a Guardian review of the materials. Hegseth, especially in 2020’s American Crusade, depicts Islam as a natural, historic enemy of the west; presents distorted versions of Muslim doctrine in “great replacement”-style racist conspiracy theories; treats leftists and Muslims as bound together in their efforts to subvert the US; and idolises medieval crusaders. Experts say that Hegseth’s view of Islam is riven with falsehoods, misconceptions and far-right conspiracy theories. Yet Hegseth, if his nomination is successful, will head the world’s largest military force at a time of conflict and instability in the Middle East. The Guardian has previously reported that in his 2020 book Hegseth calls for an “American Crusade”, targeting both “internal” or “domestic enemies” and the enemies of Israel. Hegseth also connected the two, writing: “We have domestic enemies, and we have international allies … it’s time to reach out to people who value the same principles, relearn lessons from them, and form stronger bonds.” read the complete article
Muslim Rights Group Calls for Probe Into GOP Lawmaker's Threat to Omar, Tlaib
The country's largest Muslim civil rights group on Thursday called for added protections for U.S. Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar after Florida state Sen. Randy Fine issued an apparent threat against the two Muslim lawmakers. Fine, who has the endorsement of President-elect Donald Trump in his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives, called himself the "Hebrew Hammer" in a post on X on Tuesday and suggested Reps. Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Omar (D-Minn.) should leave office for their own safety. "Bombs away," he added. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, which has spoken out previously about anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim statements by Fine (R-19), called the lawmaker an "unhinged anti-Muslim bigot." His apparent threat of violence "must be investigated by state and federal law enforcement authorities and condemned by both Democratic and Republican Party leadership," said Edward Ahmed Mitchell, national deputy executive director of CAIR. "President-elect Donald Trump, in particular, should denounce Mr. Fine's remarks and the Florida Republican Party should expel him." "We also call on U.S. Capitol Police to step up protection for Representatives Omar and Tlaib to ensure their safety as they come under increasing threats from anti-Muslim and pro-genocide bigots like Randy Fine," said Mitchell. read the complete article
Female ‘war on terror’ prisoner Aafia Siddiqui denied imam visits
US prison authorities have denied access to spiritual support for Dr Aafia Siddiqui, the Pakistani neuroscientist who activists say was wrongly jailed during the so-called ‘war on terror’. read the complete article
Defense Secretary strips Guantánamo official of power to reach settlements, after 9/11 plotter controversy
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revoked the authority of the official running the war court at Guantánamo Bay to reach settlements, the latest legal twist tied to a long-running drama over the fate of the alleged 9/11 plotters who are detained there. In a memo dated Monday, obtained by The New York Times, Austin removed Susan K. Escallier’s ability to reach settlements in two separate cases, the U.S.S. Cole and Bali bombings, “effective immediately.” The move was meant to ensure “we aren’t surprised by anything for the remainder of the term,” a senior Defense Department official told the paper. The controversy dates back to July 31, when military prosecutors reached an agreement with alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and two alleged accomplices ahead of their capital trial. The men would plead guilty in exchange for receiving a life sentence. Two days later, Austin sought to revoke the agreements. By November, a military judge ruled that the Defense Secretary had acted too late and the deals were valid. Military prosecutors have suggested they will appeal the decision. read the complete article
United Kingdom
UK MP asks for new law protecting faiths amid surge in Islamophobia
A Labour MP has asked the British government for a new law to protect “religious texts and the prophets of the Abrahamic religions” from “desecration.” Tahir Ali, MP for Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley, spoke during Prime Minister’s Questions in Westminster, bringing into focus issues around hate crimes against the UK’s Muslim communities as part of Islamophobia Awareness Month. Addressing Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Ali said: “Last year, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution condemning the desecration of religious texts, including the Qur’an, despite opposition from the previous government.” He added: “Acts of such mindless desecration only serve to fuel division and hatred within our society. Will the prime minister commit to introducing measures to prohibit the desecration of all religious texts and the prophets of the Abrahamic religions?” Starmer did not rule out the possibility of new legislation, saying: “I agree that desecration is awful and should be condemned across the House. We are, as I said before, committed to tackling all forms of hatred and division, including Islamophobia in all its forms.” read the complete article
UK Muslim MPs ‘singled out’ for opposing upcoming assisted dying bill vote
As the UK prepares for a landmark vote on the controversial assisted dying bill, Muslim MPs have found themselves under scrutiny, with some being allegedly “singled out” for their opposition to the proposed legislation. The bill, which is due for a vote in the House of Commons on Friday, would legalise assisted death for terminally ill adults in England and Wales under strict conditions. The controversy erupted after Lord Charlie Falconer, a member of the House of Lords and former Labour cabinet minister, accused Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood of “imposing her religious beliefs on everybody else” by opposing the bill. His comments have sparked a wave of criticism, with some political figures accusing Lord Falconer of targeting Muslim MPs for the stances while overlooking similar positions held by non-Muslim MPs. Former Labour NEC member and prominent anti-racism activist Mish Rahman voiced his concerns The New Arab, arguing that Falconer’s comments perpetuate harmful stereotypes about Muslim politicians. read the complete article
Standing Together Against Islamophobia: Reflections from Islamic Relief UK
As we mark Islamophobia Awareness Month this November, we at Islamic Relief UK are reflecting on how Islamophobia affects our communities, workplaces, and lives. Over the past year, there was an unsettling rise in far-right protests and rhetoric, amplifying hostility and prejudice towards Muslims, immigrants, refugees and minority ethnic groups. Islamic Relief’s community partners reported that the rise in Islamophobia had an immediate impact on the services they were able to provide to rightsholders around the country. With the growing rise in Islamophobic discourse, the need for the government to take action is even greater – including adopting the definition of Islamophobia. This month serves as a reminder to us all that, while we continue to tackle global issues, there is significant work to be done here in the UK to overcome the rising tide of Islamophobia. Every single day, there are deeply personal struggles faced by Muslims. Here, we explore how Islamophobia has affected the lives of three of our colleagues, and their personal experiences. read the complete article
India
Indian court petition claims Hindu temple buried under revered Muslim shrine
An Indian court in the state of Rajasthan has accepted a petition from a right-wing Hindu group claiming that the shrine of a revered Muslim Sufi saint and philosopher is sitting on top of a temple for the Hindu god, Shiva. The court's acceptance of the petition on Wednesday means the court will hear the case and ultimately decide whether the shrine of Mu'in al-Din Chishti should be declared a Hindu temple or remain a shrine. The right-wing group behind the petition, Hindu Sena, was founded in 2011 and is headed by Vishnu Gupta. The group's activists vandalised a Pakistan International Airlines office in New Delhi, India, in 2016. In 2017, the group held a birthday party celebrating Donald Trump, then a presidential candidate, calling him "the savior of humanity". The Mu'in al-Din Chisti shrine, located in the city of Ajmer, is one of the most revered among Muslims in India. Chishti was a 13th-century philosopher and Sufi mystic, and after his death, his tomb became a venerated site. He also introduced the Chishti Sufi order into the Indian subcontinent, which is now one of the most prominent Sufi orders in the subcontinent. The petition has sparked anger from the Indian Muslim community, who have on multiple occasions had to deal with Hindu groups trying to destroy Islamic sites over claims Hindu sites are buried underneath. read the complete article
Why Muslims in India are opposing changes to a property law
A proposal to amend a decades-old law that governs properties worth millions of dollars donated by Indian Muslims over centuries has triggered protests in the country. The properties, which include mosques, madrassas, shelter homes and thousands of acres of land, are called waqf and are managed by a board. The new bill - which introduces more than 40 amendments to the existing law - was expected to be tabled in the current parliament session after incorporating changes suggested by a joint committee of MPs. But the committee is now set to ask for more time to submit its recommendations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government says that the proposed changes are necessary to root out corruption in the management of these properties and address demands for reform from the Muslim community. But several Muslim groups and opposition parties have called the changes politically motivated and an attempt by Modi's Hindu nationalist party to weaken the rights of minorities. read the complete article
Scotland
Facing Islamophobia is an everyday reality for young Scottish Muslims
A STUDY conducted by Dr Joel White (Newcastle University), Dr Robin Finlay (Sunderland University), and Professor Peter Hopkins (Newcastle University) has shed light on the lived experiences of young Scottish Muslims. This research builds on a 2017 study that explored similar issues in the aftermath of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. The study, entitled Young Muslims In Scotland: Politics, Racism, And The Media, offers a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and contributions of young Muslims in Scotland, particularly their engagement in national and global politics, their experiences of racism and Islamophobia, and their perceptions of mainstream and social media. The release of this report is particularly timely, coinciding with Islamophobia Awareness Month in the UK. The study underscores that racism and Islamophobia are heavily embedded in the daily lives of young Muslims in Scotland. Participants expressed concerns about inadequate education on racism, which they believe fosters an environment for bullying and discrimination in both primary and secondary schools. read the complete article