Muslim minority in China's Xinjiang face 'political indoctrination': Human Rights Watch
ReutersThe Turkic majority-Muslim Uighur minority in China’s Xinjiang region faces arbitrary detentions, daily restrictions on religious practice and “forced political indoctrination” in a mass security crackdown, Human Rights Watch said on Monday.
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Turkey pins hopes on cleric Sadr to form Iraqi government
Al MonitorAs a variety of serious issues between Baghdad and Ankara are put on hold while Iraq forms a new government, Turkey maintains a close watch on political developments in the neighboring state.
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China thinks Islam is a disease, and Muslim leaders don’t care
Middle East EyeShould the crackdown on the country’s Uighur population go unchallenged, such policies could easily be replicated by other countries looking to repress minorities.
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Turkey seeks to detain 102 over suspected links to cleric
AP NewsTurkey’s state-run news agency says authorities have issued detention warrants for 102 people, including military officers, over their suspected links to a US-based Muslim cleric who is blamed by Ankara for a failed coup attempt in 2016.
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U.S. Weighs Sanctions Against Chinese Officials Over Muslim Detention Camps
NY TimesThe Trump administration is considering sanctions against Chinese senior officials and companies to punish Beijing for the detention of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Uighurs and other minority Muslims in large internment camps, according to current and former American officials.
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Macron to review report calling for reform of Islam in France
PoliticoEmmanuel Macron follows in the footsteps of those who have tried, and failed, to establish an ‘Islam of France.’
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China to regulate online religious activity amid crackdown
AP NewsChina is rolling out new rules on internet-based religious activity amid an ongoing crackdown on churches, mosques, and other institutions by the officially atheist Communist Party.
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Egypt freezes more than 1,000 alleged Muslim Brotherhood charities
Middle East EyeAn Egyptian judicial committee on Tuesday announced an asset freeze on more than 1,000 charities tied to the banned Muslim Brotherhood, as well as those of hospitals and individuals.
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Al-Qaida leader urges Muslims to fight US across the world
AP NewsMarking the 17th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Ayman al-Zawahri has called on Muslims to wage war against the United States throughout the world.
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Iran government takes crucial step toward ending education discrimination
Al MonitorPresident Hassan Rouhani approved a bill expanding educational opportunities to ‘starred students’ and sent the piece of legislation to the Iranian parliament.
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French think tank calls for 'halal tax' on Muslims
Middle East EyeAn Institut Montaigne report entitled ‘The Islamist Factory’ has recommendations for President Macron, who wants to redefine relations between Islam and the state
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Movie Theaters and Women Driving Won’t Placate Saudi Shiites
Foreign PolicyReforms pushed by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman do not ease institutional discrimination against Saudi Shiites, with conditions for the community degrading in recent years.
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Saudi Arabia raises $2 billion with new Islamic bonds
ReutersThe Kingdom’s second international sale of sukuk, part of a commitment to “Shariah-compliant debt capital markets,” achieved the Ministry of Finance’s goal for 2018.
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Turkish court rejects bid to convert Hagia Sophia to mosque
AP NewsTurkey’s highest court rejected a religious group’s request to reconvert the Hagia Sophia into a mosque; movements calling for the museum’s reopening as a mosque have greatly increased in the past two decades.
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Chinese official says China is educating, not mistreating, Muslims
ReutersDisagreeing with international human rights organizations, Chinese officials denied widespread reports of arbitrary detentions and internment camps in Xinjiang province; a government official stated that the government was instead promoting training courses to combat extremism.
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Saudi Arabia’s crown prince must restore dignity to his country — by ending Yemen’s cruel war
The Washington PostSaudi Arabia’s war in Yemen has diminished its standing on the international stage and increased -rather than solved- security issues stemming from well-armed Houthi rebels, according to journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
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Iran orders closure of newspaper for 'insulting' Shia Islam
Al JazeeraAn article on gender reassignment surgery led Iran’s top prosecutor to order the closure of a reformist newspaper; according to the government official, the article insulted the family of the Prophet.
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Iraq parliament elects Sunni lawmaker al-Halbousi as speaker, breaking deadlock
ReutersThe election of Sunni lawmaker Mohammed al-Halbousi to the position of speaker comes after a two week delay in voting, stemming from parliamentary elections that did not produce a clear win for any political party.
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Iraq's Abadi under fire from pro-Iran political factions
Al MonitorWhile political parties are attempting to build a majority coalition in the wake of inconclusive parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and the pro-Iran Popular Mobilization Units have been increasingly at odds over the influence of Iran and the United States in Iraqi politics.
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Indian Muslims protest China’s detention of Uighur Muslims
AP NewsAfter Friday prayers, a group of 150 Indian Muslims staged a protest in Mumbai, condemning the treatment of Uighur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang province.
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Iraq's religious tourism suffers from US sanctions on Iran
Al MonitorThe number of Iranian religious tourists traveling to Iraq has decreased substantially due to US sanctions on Iran, damaging an Iraqi tourism industry dependent on pilgrims observing Ashura, a day commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein.
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$1.5M settlement for Muslim workers fired in prayer dispute
The Washington PostCargill Meat Solutions reached a settlement with hundreds of workers who were fired after the company rescinded a policy covering breaks for prayer; the Teamsters union local also reached a settlement after failing to advocate for the employees.
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Ankara oddly quiet on China's alleged torture of Uighurs
Al MonitorContrasting past condemnation and activism, the Turkish government and the Turkish media have largely ignored the Chinese government’s widespread use of repressive mechanisms against the Uighur Muslim minority in Xinjiang province.
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Push to Execute Saudi Clerics Rattles Kingdom’s Power Structure
The Wall Street JournalThe efforts of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and his son Mohammed to fight corruption and consolidate power have expanded to seeking the death penalty for religious scholars and threaten the complex relationship between clerics and the royal family.
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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!