Today in Islamophobia: Islamophobia remains an issue among UK Tory members, while swimming pools in France close over Burkini ban clashes. A man in Indiana opens a health clinic for Muslims who may be neglected by insurance plans. Our recommended read for today details the ways China continues to inhibit accurate journalistic coverage in Xinjiang. This, and more, below:
China
Fake tourists and car crashes: How China blocks reporters in Xinjiang | Recommended Read
The three men were so busy staging a fake car crash they failed to notice the very people they were trying to block: Foreign journalists heading towards one of China's notorious internment camps. read the complete article
United Kingdom
Islamophobia is rife among Tory members. Johnson and Hunt can't just ignore it
Members of the Conservative party believe in deeply Islamophobic myths, taint the entire Muslim community with responsibility for terrorism, and among other things say they would prefer not to have a Muslim as Britain’s prime minister. read the complete article
Parents should be stopped from withdrawing children from religious education over Islam lessons, headteachers say
Parents should not be allowed to selectively remove their children from religious education (RE) lessons, headteachers say, as study reveals many withdrawal requests are over the teaching of Islam. read the complete article
Tory Islamophobia inquiry downgraded to 'general investigation'
A promised independent inquiry into Islamophobia in the Conservative party has been downgraded to a “general investigation” into all types of prejudice, Boris Johnson has said, going back on what was seemingly agreed in a recent BBC debate. read the complete article
France
Swimming pools in French town close in row over burkini ban
On Sunday, and last month, Muslim women clad in burkinis went to swim in the pools at the initiative of the Alliance Citoyenne rights group, despite a municipal ban on the full-body swimwear. read the complete article
United States
Muslim Health Care for All
“Don’t Have Health Insurance?” the signs read. “Come See Us. Free Medical Care. Hoosier Crescent Foundation.” Siddiki is an engineer, not a physician. read the complete article
American cops have openly engaged in Islamophobia on Facebook, with no penalties
The message by Richard Crites, a sheriff’s deputy in Missouri, starts off like so many political posts on Facebook. Then there’s the kicker: “A RAGHEAD MUSLIM.” read the complete article
House Dems Stiff-Arm DHS on Domestic Terror Funds
Earlier this year, however, congressional Democrats declined to make more money available for the department’s efforts to thwart domestic terrorist attacks. read the complete article
Canada
Quebec premier shrugs off charge new religious symbols law makes Muslim women more vulnerable to racism
Quebec Premier François Legault says he doesn't "really" believe Muslim women in the province who say they've been the target of Islamophobic incidents since the government passed a law making it illegal for some civil servants to wear religious symbols. read the complete article