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SearchToday in Islamophobia: In the U.S, President Trump launches fresh attacks on Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Fresh evidence surfaces of new detention facilities in China’s Xinjiang province. Our recommended read today is by Aida Chavez on the Trump camp’s $1 million anti-Black Lives Matter ad campaign in Texas. This, and more, below:
United States
Michael Mccaul launches $1 million ad campaign featuring anti-Black Lives Matter cop, in competitive Texas race | Recommended Read
Early in the morning of July 23, 1999, more 10 percent of the Black population of Tulia, Texas, was handcuffed and arrested, pulled out of their homes in front of television crews and wrongfully charged with dealing cocaine. Many of them served years in prison for a crime it is now widely understood they did not commit. The name Tulia has since become a stand-in for the worst excesses of the war on drugs. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and the NAACP of Texas declared the mass arrests “the ethnic cleansing of young male blacks from Tulia” and called on the state’s top prosecutors, Attorney General John Cornyn and Deputy Attorney General Michael McCaul, to open an investigation and reverse the convictions. read the complete article
Video of Proud Boys Founder Encouraging Violence Resurfaces Following Trump's 'Stand By' Comment
A video showing the violent rhetoric frequently used by Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes has reemerged after Donald Trump told the far-right group to "stand by" during the presidential date. McInnes launched the Proud Boys in 2016 but left the group in 2018 after fighting broke out between the group and antifa in New York following a speech he made at the Metropolitan Republican Club. read the complete article
Muslim Americans Are As Polarized On Politics As Everyone Else, Poll Finds
Muslim Americans are sharply divided along political and racial lines when it comes to their views on President Donald Trump and hot-button social issues, according to a new study out Thursday. And those views could be more of a factor in this year’s elections than in years past since, according to the study, Muslim Americans are making gains in becoming registered voters. read the complete article
White Supremacist Group Linked To Mosque Bombing Planned Violent Revolution Against Government
An Illinois-based white supremacist group linked to a mosque attack and an attempted abortion clinic bombing had stockpiled guns and explosives to wage a revolution against the federal government, according to reports. Michael Hari, the suspected leader of the White Rabbit Militia group, is due to go on trial in connection to the bombing of the Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. No one was killed or injured during the attack, which took place just before morning prayers on August 5, 2017. read the complete article
China
Uyghur persecution: Evidence of new detention facilities
Is China still persecuting its Uyghur Muslim minority? The government says the centres it calls “Vocational Training Centres”, which campaigners alleged were for detention and forced assimilation, have now closed. But new evidence suggests that large scale detention facilities are still being built. RTE’s Yvonne Murray was the first journalist allowed back on the ground in Xinjiang since the pandemic lockdown was lifted there. This is her special report. read the complete article
Canada
Islamophobia is on the rise during Covid-19
The COVID-19 pandemic came with many challenges other than the virus itself. In many situations it has magnified societal ills. This is especially apparent in the rise of Islamophobia online and in the media, in anti-Muslim harassment and in physical violence against Muslims. In the midst of mass lockdown procedures, economic collapse and overall uncertainty, hateful people, especially those associated with the far-right, have targeted and blamed Muslims for the spread of COVID-19. There is much the Government of Canada and broader anti-racist coalitions should be doing to mitigate these challenges. read the complete article
United Kingdom
UK advocacy group takes Tories to task on Islamophobia
It also cited “alarming” private polling, compiled for a report into allegations of Islamophobia in the party, that shows a large proportion of party members harbor disparaging views about Islam, including that the religion is “incompatible” with British culture. “In recent years, Hope not Hate has tracked, highlighted and campaigned against the poison of hatred impacting individual political parties,” the report said. “None have been immune. For several years, there have been well-documented incidents of Conservative Party MPs, councillors and locally elected representatives engaging in vile racism, particularly towards Muslims,” it added. “Muslim members have reported a lack of action when they complained. Many have resigned from the party in protest.” read the complete article
Online petition against Cllr Kamaljit Chana over Islamophobia
More than 6,000 people have signed an online petition calling on the Conservative Party to “take action” against a councillor who made Islamophobic comments. The petition, launched on change.org, asks Harrow Council and the borough’s Conservative Group to “expel” Pinner South ward councillor Kamaljit Chana from their organisations. read the complete article
India
Opinion | India pushes out Amnesty International, accelerating its march toward authoritarianism
On Tuesday, Amnesty International, one of the most respected human rights nonprofits in the world, announced that it was halting its operations in India after the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi froze the organization’s bank accounts. The closing is another shameful blow to civil society, human rights and free speech in India. read the complete article