August 28 – September 3

A Journey through Hajj, Islam’s Special Pilgrimage

A Journey through Hajj, Islam’s Special Pilgrimage

CNN

CNN provides a basic overview of hajj, including the order of rituals and demographic information.
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Mississauga Imam Ibrahim Hindy Claims Photo Falsely Used In Hurricane Harvey Article

Mississauga Imam Ibrahim Hindy Claims Photo Falsely Used In Hurricane Harvey Article

Huffington Post Canada

Ibrahim Hindy has never been to Texas- his image is used online to claim a mosque in Houston ‘refused to help infidels.’ 
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Hajj Pilgrimage Entangled in Web of Saudi Politics

Hajj Pilgrimage Entangled in Web of Saudi Politics

AP News

Saudi Arabia’s custodianship of Mecca and supervision of the hajj has provided the kingdom with “tremendous soft power.”
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Blasphemy Laws on the Books in One-Third of Nations

Blasphemy Laws on the Books in One-Third of Nations

Reuters

The five nations with the harshest encoded penalties are Iran, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Qatar.
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Israel Lawmakers Visit Jerusalem Holy Site after 2-Year Halt

Israel Lawmakers Visit Jerusalem Holy Site after 2-Year Halt

AP News

Two Israeli government officials visited the Temple Mount/Noble Sanctuary, one month after major protests over the site.
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Letters threatening acid attacks sent to Muslims in Bradford

Letters threatening acid attacks sent to Muslims in Bradford

The Guardian

West Yorkshire police have opened a hate crimes investigation in response to the posting of anonymous letters threatening violence.
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Judge: Prisons must recognize offshoot of Nation of Islam

Judge: Prisons must recognize offshoot of Nation of Islam

AP News

The Nation of Gods and Earths, popularly known as the Five Percenters, will be allowed to hold services in Virginia prisons.
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Saudi Security Forces Brace for Haj but No Militant Threats Detected

Saudi Security Forces Brace for Haj but No Militant Threats Detected

Reuters

Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Mansour Turki told Reuters that all necessary precautions were being taken to ensure the safety of this year’s two million pilgrims.
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Ebrahim Yazdi Obituary

Ebrahim Yazdi Obituary

The Guardian

Ebrahim Yazdi was the leader of the Freedom Movement of Iran (FMI), an opposition party, and was the foreign minister of the interim post-Revolution government.
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Harvey: Muslim youth group hits streets to help Houston residents during storm

Harvey: Muslim youth group hits streets to help Houston residents during storm

The Independent

Members of Muslim Youth USA and Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association have been active in providing water, food, and other resources for those affected by Harvey.
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Can political Islam make it in the modern world?

Can political Islam make it in the modern world?

The Economist

The author discusses the current state of Islamist and Islam-inspired political parties and organizations, as well as the history of political Islam.
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More than 1.7 million Muslims gather for start of hajj

More than 1.7 million Muslims gather for start of hajj

AP News

The hajj pilgrimage began on Wednesday with the circling of the Kaaba.
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Muslims begin annual haj pilgrimage in Mecca

Muslims begin annual haj pilgrimage in Mecca

Reuters

Two million pilgrims are in Mecca for the hajj, which began on Wednesday.
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Thousands more Rohingya flee to border as Myanmar violence flares

Thousands more Rohingya flee to border as Myanmar violence flares

Reuters

More than 18,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to the border of Bangladesh, escaping clashes between Rohingya militants and government forces.
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This Comprehensive Study Sheds Light on the Latino Muslim Experience

This Comprehensive Study Sheds Light on the Latino Muslim Experience

Remezcla

Dr. Gastón Espinosa conducted a nationwide study of Latino Muslim-Americans to show the diversity of the growing population.
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Bay Area faith communities rally to help community

Bay Area faith communities rally to help community

Houston Chronicle

In the Houston area, Clear Lake Islamic Center, Golden Acres Baptist Church, Clear Creek Community church, and other congregations have begun providing aid and shelter to families affected by Harvey.
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Muslim civil liberties group defends Jewish group’s markers

Muslim civil liberties group defends Jewish group’s markers

AP News

The Council on American-Islamic Relations has backed the Orthodox Jewish community in Mahwah township in a dispute over eruv markers.
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Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount Ararat for haj climax

Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount Ararat for haj climax

Reuters

Two million pilgrims encamped around Mount Ararat on Wednesday night, before holding a vigil on Thursday.
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Egypt puts more than 350 people on terrorism list

Egypt puts more than 350 people on terrorism list

AP News

The addition brings the number of individuals on the terrorism list to over 1800.
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Palestinians vie with Israel over Muslim pilgrims to Jerusalem

Palestinians vie with Israel over Muslim pilgrims to Jerusalem

Reuters

The Palestinian Tourism Ministry is promoting attempts to compete for Muslim pilgrims, attracting visitors to Palestinian owned businesses.
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Islam: An American Religion Book Discussion:

Islam: An American Religion Book Discussion:

The Immanent Frame

The Immanent Frame, SSRC’s online blog, offers series of reflections on Nadia Marzuki’s book, Islam an American Religion
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Charlie Hebdo May Now Be Criticized Because It Mocked White Texans Rather Than Muslims

Charlie Hebdo May Now Be Criticized Because It Mocked White Texans Rather Than Muslims

The Intercept

 Glenn Greenwald criticizes French magazine Charlie Hebdo’s latest cover and points out to a double-standard.
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On Muslim holiday, Houston's mosques open to Harvey evacuees

On Muslim holiday, Houston's mosques open to Harvey evacuees

The Miami Herald

Houston area Muslims help Harvey victims. 
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Rex Tillerson’s State Department Is Scrapping Key Obama-Era Religious Programs

Rex Tillerson’s State Department Is Scrapping Key Obama-Era Religious Programs

The Huffington Post

Office of Religion and Global Affairs  at the State Department will be eliminated; what does that mean? An ecumenical Christian perspective.
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Catholic bishop protects 2,000 Muslim refugees in CAR

Catholic bishop protects 2,000 Muslim refugees in CAR

BBC World

Bishop Juan José Aguirre Munoz in Central African Republic gives refuge to Muslims in his seminary.
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We need to reclaim the Hajj pilgrimage from the clutches of commercialisation

We need to reclaim the Hajj pilgrimage from the clutches of commercialisation

The Independent

A Critical perspective on Hajj and financial privilege.
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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!