September 12 – 18

I'm the first Muslim in Congress. I believe America can beat Islamophobia

I'm the first Muslim in Congress. I believe America can beat Islamophobia

Atlantic Journal-Constitution

Representative Keith Ellison, the first Muslim in Congress and still only one of two Muslim Congressmen, discusses how Muslims are treated in 2016.
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 The Crisis In Muslim Education Is A Cultural One: Why Muslims Have Failed To Come To Terms With Modernity

The Crisis In Muslim Education Is A Cultural One: Why Muslims Have Failed To Come To Terms With Modernity

Huffington Post

Waleed AlBanawi argues that teaching young children the Quran before they even understand what the words mean creates a generation of youth who put the Quran above all else. He believes this causes a “hyper-conservative strain of Islam” to exist.
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Drivers Take Off for Muslim Holiday, and New York Is in Short Supply of Yellow

Drivers Take Off for Muslim Holiday, and New York Is in Short Supply of Yellow

The New York Times

Some numbers show that Muslims make up around one third of New York city taxi drivers. This was felt on Eid al-Adha when many Muslims took the day off to celebrate the holiday. This left the roads with very little cabs and served as a reminder of the role Muslims play in the city.
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Muslim Teenager Proposes Emoji of Woman Wearing a Head Scarf

Muslim Teenager Proposes Emoji of Woman Wearing a Head Scarf

The New York Times

A young Muslim girl from Saudi Arabia wondered why there is no Emoji of a woman wearing a head scarf so she decided to take up matters into her own hands.
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The factors driving the growth of religious ‘nones’ in the U.S.

The factors driving the growth of religious ‘nones’ in the U.S.

Pew Research Center

Though it may appear that America is becoming less religious, a Pew Research Poll shows that is might just be that young people are more likely to be open about being a religious ‘none’ than older people are.
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Danger & Dialogue: American Catholic Public Opinion and Portrayals of Islam

Danger & Dialogue: American Catholic Public Opinion and Portrayals of Islam

Georgetown University

A Georgetown report shows that only one in three Catholics have favorable impressions of Muslims.
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 How church choirs could hold secret to reinventing Islam as 'English' faith

How church choirs could hold secret to reinventing Islam as 'English' faith

The Telegraph

Baroness Warsi calls for architects to create mosques that blend in with their neighborhoods and for mosques to adopt some “English” sounding hymns in an effort to create more cohesion between the Muslim minority and Christian majority.
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 Obama: U.S. welcomes Muslim refugees with ‘an open heart’

Obama: U.S. welcomes Muslim refugees with ‘an open heart’

The Washington Post

President Obama, in a statement regarding the Eid al-Adha holiday, reminded the American people of the millions of refugees who will be celebrating without their families.
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 British ambassador to Saudi Arabia completes Hajj pilgrimage after converting to Islam

British ambassador to Saudi Arabia completes Hajj pilgrimage after converting to Islam

The Telegraph

Last week, Simon Collis, British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, became the first British Ambassador to complete the Hajj pilgrimage.
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At the Hajj, Facing Islam’s Inconsistent Embrace of Women

At the Hajj, Facing Islam’s Inconsistent Embrace of Women

The New York Times

Diaa Hadid, journalist, shares her experience at the Hajj for the first time.
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Maydan editors selected some of the most thought-provoking news items on issues around Islam, religion and public-life for you. Let us know what you have been reading. Drop us a line at mediaroundups@themaydan.com!