Search
SearchToday in Islamophobia: In Pakistan, about 100 Uyghur refugees in the country will face deportation in April, after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, based on a new government directive obtained by Radio Free Asia, meanwhile in the U.S., a psychologist for Ridgeland School District 122 in Oak Lawn Illinois has resigned after hundreds of parents demanded she be fired for social media posts that were pro-Israeli and anti-Palestinian, and in Sri Lanka, a firebrand Buddhist majority hardliner monk was on Thursday sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment for Islamophobic comments made at a 2016 press conference. Our recommended read of the day is by The Council of Europe documenting a debate which was held in the chamber on 26 March where Congress members shared both recent information regarding their local authorities and also best practices for preventing violence and restoring intercultural dialogue on a lasting basis as it relates to rising rates of antisemitism and Islamophobia. This and more below:
Europe
Fight the upsurge in antisemitism and anti-muslim hatred: a major challenge for European cities and regions | Recommended Read
The events in the Middle East have led to an unprecedented upsurge in antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents in Europe. During the thematic debate on 26 March, Congress members shared both recent information regarding their local authorities and also best practices for preventing violence and restoring intercultural dialogue on a lasting basis. Local and regional authorities are once again on the front line when it comes to addressing daily risks of violence. Social and cultural peace is currently under greater strain than ever in major European cities in which various religious and cultural communities live side by side. Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Council Leader in Islington, one of the most disadvantaged boroughs in London, highlighted the decisive part which the local council plays in preserving peace and dialogue in an area where over 40% of residents were born outside the UK. As the first Black and Jewish woman to head Islington Council, she is particularly keen to promote respect between the Jewish and Muslim communities there against the background of the current crisis. read the complete article
United States
Will Islamophobia Sink This Judicial Nomination
Nominated by Biden for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, Adeel Mangi has a Harvard education and years as a prominent corporate litigator under his belt. But during his Senate confirmation hearing, the main thing Republican lawmakers wanted to talk about were Hamas’s October 7th attacks. Now, Democrats are weighing filling a seat in the federal judiciary against giving in to Islamophobia. read the complete article
Students rally against Islamophobia and lack of support for Palestinian students at IU
When a handful of counter protesters approached the rally against Islamophobia in Dunn Meadow on Tuesday night, no harsh words were exchanged. Instead, Esteban Hernandez, standing with the pro-Palestinian demonstrators, began to play the violin. A brief feeling of tension swept across the crowd, but Hernandez continued playing, cutting through the silence with “Leve Palestina” by Kofia — a 1970s Swedish song that translates to “Long Live Palestine” in English — and “Mawtini,” an Arabic poem set to music that serves as an unofficial Palestinian anthem. The pro-Palestinian demonstrators chanted “free Palestine” for a moment before the tension cleared and the protesters began marching toward Kirkwood Avenue, away from the counter protesters. The protesters had gathered in the meadow after months of violence in Gaza and a series of decisions by IU that left Muslim and Arab students feeling unsupported. But the inciting event for the protest was a now postponed IU Hillel event featuring Hamas member-turned-Israeli-spy Mosab Hassan Yousef, whose derogatory comments about Muslims sparked criticism from the Palestine Solidarity Committee and the Middle Eastern Student Association. read the complete article
SD122 psychologist resigns over Islamophobic posts
A psychologist for Ridgeland School District 122 has resigned after hundreds of parents demanded she be fired for social media posts that were pro-Israeli and anti-Palestinian. District Supt. Joseph Matise announced at a schoolboard meeting last week that Dr. Laurie Hoke had resigned. “Dr. Hoke will no longer be working with students and families within the district,” Matise said at the meeting March 20 at Simmons Middle School in Oak Lawn. The resignation came after a petition demanding her ouster received more than 1,500 signatures. Not everyone in attendance was satisfied with the announcement. read the complete article
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka court sentences firebrand Buddhist monk over Islamophobic comments
The monk, who was running an anti-Muslim minority campaign since 2012, was charged for comments made at a press conference held in March 2016. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, 49, was additionally fined Rupees 1,00,000 by the High Court here. The monk, who was running an anti-Muslim minority campaign since 2012, was charged for comments made at a press conference held in March 2016. read the complete article
International
Uyghur refugees in Pakistan face deportation in April
About 100 Uyghur refugees in Pakistan face deportation in April, after the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan is over, based on a new government directive, a copy of which was obtained by Radio Free Asia. The 18 refugee families, who have been living in Pakistan for several years, fear they will be deported to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan or China, where they may face persecution. The Uyghurs are a tiny part of a much larger group of 1.7 million Afghan refugees in the country that the Pakistani government announced last October it would deport following a series of suicide bombings blamed on Afghan groups. The Pakistani government decided in November 2023 to extend the stay of the Uyghurs for six months after the U.N. refugee agency intervened on their behalf. In February, the Interior Ministry held a meeting to review the repatriation plan, which outlines three phases, starting with undocumented Afghan nationals, followed by Afghan Citizen Card holders and proof of registration holders. read the complete article