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SearchToday in Islamophobia: The Muslim ban continues to split families apart, while Quebec bans religious symbols in some public sector jobs. As Islamophobia worsens in the EU, Trump targets Sadiq Khan by retweeting Katie Hopkins. Our recommended read for today is by Jonathan Katz on the shooter who killed three Muslims and received the “presumption of racial innocence”. This, and more, below:
United States
Opinion | How Did a Man Who Murdered Three Muslims Receive a Presumption of Racial Innocence? | Recommended Read
They could see a man who’d amassed an arsenal in his condominium, including an AR-15 that he told police the night of the murders was “loaded up and ready to go,” and see a “sudden, shocking spasm of violence,” in the words of the Washington Post. They could see a man who posted anti-Muslim memes on Facebook and had a record of flashing guns and seething epithets at neighbors of color and repeat, uncritically, his soon-to-be-ex-wife’s assertion that “the incident had nothing to do with religion or the victims’ faith.” They could regurgitate her self-delusion—freshly disproven as forcefully as anything has ever been disproven—that he was merely “a champion of Second Amendment rights” who “believed everyone is equal.” His motive could be cast as a great unknowable. In a pattern that would repeat itself in the white supremacist massacres to come, tastemakers went looking for anything that could complicate the narrative. read the complete article
"Crickets. They're Gone." Why the Mercers, Trump's Biggest 2016 Backers, Have Bailed on Him
A large part of the problem is that Trump has lost the financial support of one of his biggest backers in 2016: the Mercers. With their ties to Steve Bannon, Breitbart, and Cambridge Analytica, Robert Mercer and his daughter Rebekah were superstars last cycle. According to half a dozen sources familiar with the reclusive family’s political activities, the Mercers have drastically curtailed their political donations in recent months and will likely not play a significant role in 2020. read the complete article
Report | Over Two Years Later, Families Still Left in Limbo After Trump's Muslim Ban Face Impossible Circumstances
In some cases, these families were cleared to come to the United States in late 2016 and early 2017, only to be stranded in countries where they face restrictive policies, increasingly hostile environments, and often lack the same rights as permanent residents or citizens. The new report, “The Mountain is in Front of Us and the Sea is Behind Us,” is based on nearly 50 interviews conducted by AIUSA with refugees currently living in Lebanon and Jordan. The report describes the desperate circumstances faced by families who continue to be locked in an impossible limbo because of discriminatory U.S. policies as they try to seek safe a new life and permanent home. read the complete article
International
The EU's Islamophobia is getting worse – Britain must fight this from within
Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party is a long-time member of the supposedly pro-EU European People’s party. Though suspended from the EPP in March, Fidesz has not been expelled. And the European commission president Jean-Claude Juncker described Orbán as “a hero”. Meanwhile, the EU is agitating to do business with Orbán’s new ally in Asia. The same day that Aung San Suu Kyi met Orbán, EU officials were meeting with counterparts at the Myanmar-EU Economic Forum to urge the establishment of an “investment-friendly business climate to attract foreign investment”. Both Aung San Suu Kyi and Orbán are darlings of the American far-right. Extremist pundits such as Ann Coulter and Pam Geller have lavished praiseon the Myanmar premiere, blaming Muslims for the violence. Thinktanks including the Heritage Foundation, which has massive leverage in the Donald Trump administration, have praised Orbán’s brand of extreme nationalism for revitalising Europe’s “Judeo-Christian” heritage. read the complete article
United Kingdom
Muslim MP accuses government of ‘shameful silence’ over Trump’s attack on Sadiq Khan
The government is ‘failing to stand with minority communities’ and allowing ‘hatred and bigoted views to become legitimised’, a Labour MP has said. Shadow minister of state for women and equalities, Naz Shah, made the remarks following what she calls the government’s shameful silence after Donald Trump took to Twitter to attack London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Ms Shah told Metro.co.uk: ‘If Donald Trump can endorse the far-right that use racist tropes to attack the Mayor of London and that does not warrant a response from our Prime Minister or those planning to become Prime Minister, then it sets a dangerous and worrying precedence. ‘Minority communities are directly impacted on when hatred and bigoted views are legitimised. ‘Those communities will be looking at who will stand up for them? So far, there is nothing but defeating silence from this Conservative Government.’ read the complete article
Trump uses racist Katie Hopkins tweet to attack Sadiq Khan
The US president made the comments while retweeting Katie Hopkins, a far-right, Islamophobic commentator. Ms Hopkins highlighted some recent stabbings in London in the original tweet. “This is Khan’s Londonistan,” she wrote. Mr Khan is a British citizen, of Pakistani descent. The term ‘Londonistan’ is often used in a disparaging sense when referencing the British capital’s Muslim community. The tweets are the latest in a long line of clashes between Mr Trump and Sadiq Khan, a practising British Muslim. Experts previously told The Independent that Mr Trump’s comments could fuel harassment targeting Mr Khan, who is already under 24-hour police protection because of racist harassment and death threats. read the complete article
Canada
Canada's Quebec bans religious symbols in some public sector jobs
The long-expected legislation, Bill 21, which was passed by 73 to 35 in the predominantly French-speaking province on Sunday, affects public workers in positions of authority, including teachers, judges and police officers, but it exempts current government employees and civil servants. If employers do not enforce the ban, they will face unspecified "disciplinary measures". For school teachers, local media reported that only those hired after March 28 will not be allowed to wear religious symbols. However, if a teacher hired before March 28 wishes to be promoted, he or she would not be allowed to wear any religious symbols. read the complete article