Islam in Media | Dec 7 – Dec 13

By Maydan Editors  //  

Maydan Editors

The Maydan is an online publication of the AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies at George Mason University. The Maydan team is composed of the Center's faculty members and graduate students both within and outside GMU.

[Maydan’s media roundups provide a weekly overview of leading news stories from around the world. Intended to be an ongoing archive for students and researchers alike, the roundup is curated by Maydan team members. This iteration has been curated by Ahmet Ergurum. ]

Australia

Austrian Constitutional Court Overturns Headscarf Ban in Schools

Al-Jazeera

The court ruled that the law, which prevented girls younger than 10 from wearing the headscarf, was ‘discriminatory’.
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Bangladesh

Bangladesh Moves Rohingya to Remote Island

Al-Jazeera

“My family didn’t want to go, they are taking them by force.”
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Ignoring Criticism, Bangladesh Begins Resettling Rohingya

Human rights groups have already voiced serious concerns about the plan to move thousands of refugees to an uninhabited island.
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China

'Being Young' Leads to Detention in China's Xinjiang Region

Middle East Eye

Alexandre Bissonnette will be eligible for parole in 25 years, instead of 40, after court rules his original sentence was ‘cruel and unusual’
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China Uses Big Data to Select Muslims for Arrest in Xinjiang: HRW

Al-Jazeera

Rights group says Chinese policing programme selects people for arrest for ‘everyday, lawful’ behaviour.
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France

Amid A Crackdown on ‘Separatism’, How Do French Muslims Feel?

Al-Jazeera

Al Jazeera spoke to French Muslims in Paris as the gov’t ramps up efforts to regulate community spaces and groups.
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France Unveils Draft Law to Boost ‘Republican Principles’ as Debate over Islamism Rages

Washnington Post

The French government officially unveiled its draft law against Islamist “separatism” Wednesday, a bill that follows two recent terrorist attacks and has elicited a fierce debate in France and abroad over the limits of government involvement in religious affairs.
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Macron Thrusts Muslims Onto the Front Line of French Politics

Bloomberg

The president risks alienating the country’s second-biggest religious group with his battle against radical Islam.
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Indonesia

Indonesia Expects Halal Certificate for Experimental Vaccine

Washington Post

Indonesia’s highest Muslim clerical body is expected to issue a halal certification for the experimental COVID-19 vaccine developed by China-based Sinovac Biotech, officials said Monday.
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International

I Warned in 2018 YouTube was Fueling Far-Right Extremism. Here's What the Platform Should Be Doing

YouTube’s attempts to stay apolitical has kept it tied up in knots, focusing decisions on small technicalities.
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Muslim Pro: How Tech Capitalism Turns Prayer Data into Profit

Middle East Eye

Equating normal religious practices with a propensity for violence has long driven state suspicion of Muslims, both domestically and abroad.
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New Zealand

New Zealand Must Address Past Failures to Restore Muslims' Sense of Safety and Belonging

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/08/new-zealand-must-address-past-failures-to-restore-muslims-sense-of-safety-and-belonging

Following the release of the Christchurch shooting report, the government has to prove to the Islamic community it takes accountability seriously.
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Christchurch Shooter was Active with Australian Far-Right Groups Online but Escaped Police Attention

The Guardian

Inquiry details how gunman expressed support for Australian extremist in Facebook posts and engaged with neo-Nazi groups’ social media.
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Pakistan

Pakistan Asks India to Ensure Protection of Muslims

Dawn

Pakistan has urged the Indian government to ensure safety, security and protection of minorities, particularly Muslims and their places of worship, and fulfil its responsibilities under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international instruments, including the recommendations of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
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Spain

Barcelona Star Griezmann Cuts Huawei Ties over Uighur Persecution

YouTube’s attempts to stay apolitical has kept it tied up in knots, focusing decisions on small technicalities.
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Muslim Pro: How Tech Capitalism Turns Prayer Data into Profit

Middle East Eye

Equating normal religious practices with a propensity for violence has long driven state suspicion of Muslims, both domestically and abroad.
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Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka to Cremate Muslim COVID-19 Victims Despite Objections

Al-Jazeera

Families have refused to claim the bodies in protest over the government’s policy of cremation, which is forbidden under Islamic law.
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UK

How the British Media is Supporting Macron's Anti-Islam Campaign

Middle East Eye

Commentators in the UK have lavished praise on the French president and failed to critically assess his crackdown on Muslim citizens.
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USA

Muslim Men can Sue FBI Agents Over ‘No-Fly List’: US High Court

Al-Jazeera

Three men say FBI agents placed them on the no-fly list when they refused to spy on Muslim communities in the US.
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Intel, Nvidia Probed over Tech Allegedly Used against Uighurs

Al-Jazeera

Two US legislators sent letters to the CEOs of Intel Corp and Nvidia Corp asking about the sale of advanced computer chips allegedly used to conduct mass surveillance on Uighurs.
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Why Muslims in the US Face A Crisis of Leadership

Al-Jazeera

Some Muslim American groups have turned into agents of oppression, providing cover for harmful and destructive policies towards our communities.
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