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SearchToday in Islamophobia: Trump administration considers adding more countries to Muslim Ban, as French president weighs in on headscarf row. Japanese brands Muji and Uniqlo flaunt “Xinjiang cotton” in spite of human rights abuses in the region. Our recommended read today is by Shaheen Nasser titled “Monsterising the racial other.” This, and more, below:
United States
Opinion | Of Muslims and men: Monsterising the racial other | Recommended Read
This Halloween, the US will lock some children in cages, ban some from entering the country altogether and identify others as dangerous thugs. To understand why some children get to trick-or-treat while others get detained, banned or shot, we should look into the origins of the monster mythologies that inspire the "classic" Halloween monster costumes. Monster mythologies personify our fears, and nothing is more fearsome to resurgent white nationalism in the US than people of colour. The policies that cage Latinx children, ban Muslim children and shoot black children are the end product of a lengthy history of portraying black and brown people as monsters. read the complete article
Trump administration considers adding more countries to travel ban list
Trump administration officials are discussing adding more countries to the travel ban list, two sources tell CNN, potentially expanding the controversial ban that has been criticized as discriminating against Muslims. An inter-agency discussion about imposing travel restrictions on countries that are not compliant with electronic documents and information sharing -- a key focus of the administration -- is underway, according to a senior administration official. Fewer than five countries are under consideration, the official said. The goal, the official said, is to "bring governments into compliance by using the power of access to the United States." The travel restrictions would be tailored to the countries, if they're added, and not impose a ban on them altogether, the official noted. read the complete article
China
For China’s embattled Uighurs, a bank transfer abroad can become a ‘terrorism’ ordeal
The Chinese state has come down not once, but twice, on Mayila Yakufu. First, the 41-year-old insurance company worker was taken away for 10 months of “vocational training” in one of the internment camps China has set up in the mostly-Muslim Xinjiang region as part of an extensive campaign to strip the Uighur minority of its culture and language. She was out for barely four months before the authorities picked her up again — this time for financing terrorism. Now, the single mother of three is in a prison for criminals, serving a sentence of unknown length. read the complete article
Opinion | We must stand up to China's abuse of its Muslim minorities
Over the last several months, the steady trickle of horrifying stories has provided a fuller picture of the kinds of evils regularly occurring within these camps. We have now heard credible accounts of relentless brainwashing, systematic sexual abuse and extensive physical punishments, like fingernails ripped out and forced abortions. These are some of the darkest stories ever told, yet they are critical to air to the world. Now, we hear them with terrible frequency. In Congress, Nury Turkel, chair of the board for the Uyghur Human Rights Project, recently provided testimony, explaining that speaking “may cost the lives of [his] parents, but … it’s the right thing to do”. read the complete article
International
Europe's far-right and Hindu-nationalists unite to whitewash repression
Eight million Muslims in Kashmir have been living under Indian military security lockdown for more than eighty days now as part of the Indian government’s strategy to quell international condemnation against its sudden move to launch what many describe as a “Hindu nationalist-settler-colonial project” in the disputed territory. Silence and submission is the first phase of New Delhi’s strategy. The next is concerned with normalisation, which requires convincing the international community that the Indian military’s heavy-handed security measures in the disputed territory are reasonable, rational and sound. read the complete article
Americans must search their conscience and ‘google Uyghurs’
This scrappy group from around the tristate area wore shirts spelling out “Google Uyghurs” while chanting that, along with, “Free Uighurs! Free Hong Kong! Educate LeBron!” They were mocking Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James for defending the Chinese government’s severe punishment of the National Basketball Association after Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted out support for Hong Kong protesters. James said Morey was “either misinformed or not really educated on the situation.” read the complete article
Japanese brands Muji and Uniqlo flaunt 'Xinjiang Cotton' despite Uyghur human rights concerns
Japanese clothing brands Muji and Uniqlo have raised eyebrows for spruiking "Xinjiang Cotton" products, while brands in Australia are distancing themselves from the region that has become synonymous with China's mass internment of Uyghur Muslims. read the complete article
American-led ‘pro-family’ summit in Ghana condemned for ‘shocking’ white supremacist, Islamophobic links
The World Congress of Families (WCF) is hosting a two-day “Africa regional gathering” in the Ghanaian capital from Thursday, seeking to meet with parliamentarians and religious leaders from the country. read the complete article
France
Macron and Islam: French president weighs in on new headscarf row
France's on again, off again row over the Muslim headscarf is on again. This time, was it the president who started it? With March municipal elections on the way, Emmanuel Macron has been telling MPs from his own party not to let the far right own the conversation on secularism, radicalisation and sectarianism. But his own camp emerged divided from a recent parliamentary debate. And when a far-right regional councillor baited a mother who had accompanied children on a school outing, all bets were off. We ask what the law says and what the French want. read the complete article