International
In Pictures: Muslims Celebrate Eid al-Fitr Amid Coronavirus
BBCAfter a Ramadan marked by lockdowns and social distancing, Muslims around the world have begun celebrating Eid al-Fitr.
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In Pictures: Eid al-Fitr in the Time of Coronavirus
Al JazeeraSubdued Eid celebrations across the Muslim world as many people mark the end of Ramadan under lockdown.
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Eid al-Fitr Celebrations in Africa - Amid Coronavirus
BBCMuslims across Africa – and the world – are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
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As Mideast Prepares for Eid Holiday, Coronavirus Cases Spike
NBCA huge spike in coronavirus cases in the Middle East, where many have been observing the Islamic month of Ramadan, has led countries to extend and reinforce lockdown measures during this weekend’s Eid holiday.
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Balkan Muslims Celebrate Eid Feast Amid Coronavirus
Balkan InsightMuslims across the region are celebrating the end of the month-long Ramadan fast with the feast of Eid-al-Fitr.
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Eid 2020: Weekend’s ‘Shawwal Moon’ To End Ramadan, Set Up ‘Solstice Ring Of Fire’ Eclipse Of The Sun
ForbesIt’s New Moon this week. On Friday, May 22, 2020 at 17:38 Universal Co-ordinated Time (UTC) the Moon will enter its new phase as it slips roughly between the Earth and Sun on its monthly orbit.
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What is Ramadan Like for Athletes During Lockdown?
BBCSonny Bill Williams, Adil Rashid and Muhamed Besic speak to BBC Sport’s Shamoon Hafez about observing Ramadan during lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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China Is Spying on Uighur Muslims in the UK
VICEUighur Muslims in China face widespread persecution and surveillance. Now those living in the UK say they’re being spied on, too.
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Photo Contest Asks Rohingya Community to Document Their Lives During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Global VoicesOver 400 images were submitted in the first three weeks.
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Ambassador Brownback Warns About The COVID-19 Related Burdens Faced By Religious Minorities
ForbesAmong the examples, Ambassador Brownback mentioned that in Myanmar, the Burmese military denies the Rohingya Muslims access to medical care and so exposes them to the risk of complications in severe cases of COVID-19.
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Coronavirus: We're all Masked and the West Must Confront its Hypocrisy Towards Muslim Women
ScrollNow that face masks are being used to help fight against the spread of Covid-19, it has caused some to look anew at general discrimination against Muslim women wearing niqabs. And it has got me wondering about Québec’s face-covering ban, which came into law in October 2017 as well as France’s ban which came into law in 2011.
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Exclusive: Islamophobic Disinformation and Hate Speech has Swamped Social Media During the Coronavirus Pandemic
CodaA series of Twitter hashtags falsely accusing Muslims around the world of deliberately spreading the novel coronavirus has pushed Islamophobic disinformation and hate speech to 170 million users since the outbreak of the pandemic, according to new research.
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Nepali Muslims Eye India's Growing Islamophobia With Fear
Global VoicesStruggling against conspiracy theories on and offline.
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Saints, Scholars and Queens: The Women who Helped Forge Islam
Middle East EyeHossein Kamaly’s History of Islam in 21 Women is a warts-and-all celebration of the women who helped shape one of the world’s biggest religions.
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India
Muslims Are Alienated From PM Modi, Not the Indian State: Survey
The QuintAn ongoing nationwide survey during the COVID-19 pandemic by C-Voter reveals that Indian Muslims have a lot of trust in virtually all public institutions of India, except the Prime Minister and the Central government.
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After Cyclone Hits India and Bangladesh, The Waiting Begins
The New York TimesThe authorities acted quickly to move people from the cyclone’s path, but worried they might be putting them into the path of the coronavirus.
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India Takes Another Leaf from Israel's Playbook by Denying Funerals in Kashmir
Middle East EyeThe state is using coronavirus as a pretext to withhold militants’ bodies, inhibiting the communal grieving process.
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UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide Expresses Concern over Discrimination against Muslims in India
Caravan MagazineThe Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, expressed his concern over reports of increased hate speech and discrimination against minority communities in India since the adoption of the Citizenship Amendment Act in December 2019.
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China
China Erasing Muslim Culture During Ramadan
Taiwan NewsAccording to Bitter Winter, an online magazine focused on religious liberty in China, some Chinese local governments have been asking the police to enhance their monitoring of Muslims since Ramadan began, especially during Friday prayers and Eid al-Fitr (the festival of breaking the fast).
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Sri Lanka
Like India, Sri Lanka is Using Coronavirus to Stigmatise Muslims
Al JazeeraSri Lanka’s decision to make cremations mandatory for COVID-19 victims is an act of institutionalised Islamophobia.
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Sri Lankan Muslims Observe Quiet Eid at Home
Arab NewsSri Lankan Muslims are staying at home during this year’s Eid Al-Fitr as the island country enforced a nation-wide curfew on Sunday and Monday to prevent mass gatherings and the spread of the coronavirus.
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The Philippines
Philippine Muslim Cadets Share their Experiences of Military Academy
Arab NewsMuslims make up a fraction of the Philippines’ population, which is predominantly Catholic, and just 20 of the 975 cadets at PMA are Muslim. But the academy’s Muslim cohort is proud to serve the country and their minority status has been no barrier to success.
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Filipino Muslims Thankful for Pray-at-home Eid this Year
Arab NewsThe Philippines, anticipating congregations for Eid and a spike in infections, banned gatherings at mosques and open spaces. Several areas in the country were placed under community quarantine.
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Indonesia
Indonesians Prepare For Eid Holiday Amid Concerns Over Spread Of COVID-19
NPRIn Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim country, this weekend’s Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan will involve mass travel, raising concerns about the effect it may have on the country’s COVID-19 infection rates.
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A Lonely Eid al-Fitr under a Highway in Jakarta
Al JazeeraWorkers in the Indonesian capital struggle to earn a living and support their families amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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United States
'They Put me in Solitary for Having Oranges' — Muslim Inmates Struggle During Ramadan
The RootA lawsuit in Franklin County highlights challenges faced by Muslim inmates during Islam’s holy month.
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'I Thought We Were Going to Die.' Muslim Woman Recounts SUV Attack in Nutley
North JerseyShe sat in shock in her Toyota Camry, gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles, her 16-year-old son beside her. A second earlier, an SUV had sped up in the Carvel parking lot and slammed into the driver’s side of her car – intentionally.
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Malcolm X: The Revolutionary Who Reimagined Blackness
The Root“Malcolm X taught black men and women, children, boys and girls to love being black. Not just African American, but black, because black is global and connected to the diaspora.”
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Coronavirus Restrictions on Mosques Bring Women to the Fore
Religion NewsDespite President Trump’s claim that mosques would get special treatment during this crisis, it’s no surprise that COVID-19 has shifted Muslim religious life almost entirely online. What is surprising about ISNA’s Friday Reflections is that so far three of ISNA’s six preachers — Ingrid Mattson, Dalia Mogahed and Tamara Gray — are women.
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I Am Considering Myself an Essential Worker”: An Imam on Carrying out Muslim Funerals Amid the Pandemic
VoxAs Covid-19 ravages families in New York, a religious leader offers comfort — and some semblance of tradition.
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'We are all the same': West Springfield Mosque Provides Hundreds of Meals to the Community During Coronavirus
Massachusetts LiveThe vibrant collection of people celebrating the day after Eid al-Fitr at the Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts had to change because of the coronavirus. This year, the mosque decided to provide food to hundreds of community members in need as the country remains in the midst of the unprecedented pandemic.
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Mosques Adapt to Coronavirus Shutdown by Sharing the Call to Prayer. in Culver City, Neighbors Said It Was Too Loud
LA TimesIn extraordinary times, when Muslims are unable to break the fast and pray together because COVID-19 has forced mosques to close — as it has some churches and other places of worship — the adhan has brought comfort. Cities across Southern California, including Redlands, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga and Claremont, have allowed mosques to broadcast the call to prayer publicly.
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Muslims Create Mini-mosques at Home to Mark Ramadan Amid Coronavirus
USA TodayMuslim families isolated at home during the coronavirus quarantine are missing traditions during the holy month of Ramadan, such as praying at mosques, sharing communal meals and visiting family and friends.
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US Muslims Balance Eid Rituals With Coronavirus Concerns
VOA NewsWith no congregational prayers or family gatherings, Salsabiel Mujovic has been worried that this year’s Eid al-Fitr celebration will pale. Still, she’s determined to bring home holiday cheer amid the coronavirus gloom.
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Afghanistan
Surprise Eid Peace in Afghanistan
Arab NewsA surprise Eid peace took hold in Afghanistan on Sunday after Taliban militants offered a cease-fire and the government reciprocated.
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Iran
Iran Marks End of Ramadan on Two Different Days in Rare Event
Middle East EyeSupreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Eid would fall on Sunday, while senior clerics said it would be marked on Monday.
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Israel/Palestine
Here is How Gaza Celebrates Eid
Middle East EyeDate cookies, fresh outfits and fish fermented for 100 days. We get a tour through Gaza City on the eve of Eid al-Fitr.
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Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque to Reopen after Eid al-Fitr Holiday
Al JazeeraIslam’s third-holiest site to reopen after the three-day Eid holiday expected to begin this weekend.
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Saudi Arabia
Saudis Find Innovative Ways to Give Eid Gifts Amid Pandemic
Arab NewsDue to the ongoing pandemic, Saudis are exploring different ways to exchange gifts and eidiya. They are mostly relying on internet and different apps available to solve this problem by sending e-gifts and transferring money using electronic channels.
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Egypt
Egyptian Police Chase Man Who Tried to Lead Eid Prayers
Arab NewsA video of a man wearing Al-Azhar University’s uniform being chased by police was posted by social media users in Egypt on Sunday. The man had been reportedly leading Eid congregational prayers in violation of anti-coronavirus measures that prevent gatherings. The video also shows a person laughing and saying: “Run sheikh.”
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No Political Prisoners Freed as Egypt Pardons Thousands on Eid
Al JazeeraPresident el-Sisi grants clemency to 3,157 people, including ex-policeman jailed for murder of singer Suzanne Tamim.
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Algeria
Algeria's Islamists Use Identity Issues to Drum up Support, Serve Agenda
The Arab WeeklyThe largest Islamist party in Algeria is jumping on the bandwagon of the ongoing debate about cultural and linguistic identity in the country to try to capture the hearts and minds of a wide segment of Algerians, by promoting a proposal to ban the use of French in the official institutions of the state.
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Sudan
Eid Prayers Said in Sudan’s Mosques as Worshippers Defy Ban
Dabanga SudanHundreds of people performed Eid El Fitr prayers in mosques and on public squares in Khartoum and in several state capitals yesterday, listeners reported to Radio Dabanga. This was clearly in violation of the coronavirus precautions that prohibited gatherings and group prayers.
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Nigeria
Nigeria: Scores Attend Mass Eid Prayers Despite Warning
Anadolou AgencyScores of Muslims in Nigeria performed Eid al-Fitr prayers on Sunday amid the threat of coronavirus, and warning against mass gatherings.
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Senegal
In Pictures: How Senegal Social Distanced and Still Held Mass Eid Prayers
TRT WorldMosques around the world were closed to worshippers wishing to mark the end of Ramadan. Senegal was one of the few countries to re-open mosques.
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Turkey
Turkey Imposes its Broadest Yet Lockdown for Eid al-Fitr
Al JazeeraUnder new nationwide 24-hour curfew, people in 81 cities are banned from leaving home from May 23 to 26.
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A Quiet Ramadan Bayram in Turkey in Time of COVID-19 Pandemic
Daily SabahRestrictions in place to prevent the coronavirus from spreading meant an end to centuries-old traditions for the faithful. Instead of visiting parents, children, relatives and friends, Muslims in Turkey – and around the world – will be forced to continue self-isolation.
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'I Miss my Homeland': Fearful Uighurs Celebrate Eid in Exile in Turkey
The GuardianIstanbul has become the world’s largest diaspora hub for Uighurs fleeing Chinese persecution.
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Kosovo
Church of the Holy Emperor Uroš and Madhe Mosque
Atlas ObscuraChristianity and Islam have clashed, yet here a Serbian Orthodox church and a mosque stand together.
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Kosovo Muslims Hold Protest Prayers in Pristina Square
Balkan InsightTo protest against the continued closure of Kosovo’s mosques because of the coronavirus pandemic, a group of Muslims held outdoor prayers in Pristina’s main Skanderbeg Square to mark the holy day of Laylat al-Qadr.
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Serbia
Migrants Trapped in Balkan Camps Find Ramadan a Trial
Balkan InsightFor migrants and refugees isolated in camps in the Balkans during the COVID-19 pandemic, celebrating the holy month of Ramadan is an extra ordeal.
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United Kingdom
Patience, Sacrifice and Zakat: An Islamic Response to Coronavirus
Al JazeeraMuslim communities in the UK have been hard hit, but during Ramadan, the principle of zakat is a source of strength.
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Coronavirus: Dabirul Choudhury, 100, Raises £150k with Ramadan Walk
BBCDabirul Islam Choudhury, from St Albans, challenged himself to walk 100 laps of his garden during the Islamic holy month, which ends on Saturday. Mr Choudhury wants the donations to help people affected by coronavirus in the UK and Bangladesh.
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'A Balm for the Soul': How we Made the Cambridge Mosque Garden
Middle East EyeA year since the ‘eco-mosque’ opened, Islamic garden specialist Emma Clark explains the traditional principles behind its design.
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UK: 'Stay at Home for Eid' Messages Slammed as Patronising
Al JazeeraMuslims, critics decry double standard as there were fewer warnings against gathering for events such as VE Day parties.
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France
Coronavirus Exposed the Real Reasons Behind France's 'Burqa Ban'
Al JazeeraFrance’s decision to make masks mandatory in public raises important questions about its ban on Muslim face veils.
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Victims of COVID-19 Fill Muslim Cemeteries in France
Arab NewsThe closure of France’s borders with some African countries due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has created problems regarding the burial of deceased Muslims of North African origin.
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Germany
Italy
Australia
Ramadan Fast Ends for Muslims, but Coronavirus Limits Celebrations
ABC Net AustraliaMuslims across Western Australia have marked the end of Ramadan in unusual circumstances, trading their normal festival of hundreds for a small feast at the family home.
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Victoria University Accused of Censorship After Removing Serbian War Crimes Material
SBS NewsVictoria University has been urged to reconsider removing material about the Bosnian War from a course on human rights.
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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!