May 25

UK Eyes Sukuk for Finance

Muslims of England No Comments »

Banking on the booming Islamic finance market, Britain is mulling offering sukuk (Islamic bonds) to finance part of its debt.

“A sovereign sukuk may form a part of our financing for the future,” Business Minister Ian Pearson told Reuters. “I am keen in principle to look to issue sovereign sukuk but conditions have to be right to do that.”

Pearson, economics and business secretary to the UK Treasury, said London could resort to sukuk once economic conditions improve. “Now it is not the appropriate time, but we keep these matters under review,” he said.

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May 25

3rd Annual Muslim Writers Awards Slated for May 27th

Muslims of England No Comments »

The third annual Muslim Writers Awards will take place on 27th May 2009 at London’s Park Lane Hilton.

The MWA initiative recognizes the breadth and quality of literary talent within the UK’s Muslim community.

The awards have attracted support from leading publishers, international Muslim organizations and celebrity advocates like James Caan (Dragon’s Den).

The ceremony will be broadcast live to millions of viewers across the UK, Europe and the Middle East by several satellite broadcasters.

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May 25

Muslim Heads BBC Religion

Muslims of England No Comments »

The BBC, the world’s largest broadcaster, has appointed the first-ever Muslim head of its prominent TV religious programming, drawing cautious welcome from church leaders who want Christianity to feature more prominently in BBC programs.

“Aaqil Ahmed has been appointed to the new joint role of Head of Religion and Ethics and Commissioning Editor for Religion TV,” the BBC said in a statement.

Ahmed will join the state-funded broadcaster from the privately-run Channel 4, where he was commissioning editor for religion.

He will spare the role of overseeing religious broadcasting with Christine Morgan, who has been chosen as head of Religion Radio.

Ahmed is a member of the Runnymede Trust, a body that has championed the ideology of multiculturalism.

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May 25

British FM urges coalition of West and Muslim world

Muslims of England No Comments »

Terrorism and past conflicts have ‘distorted’ relations between western and Muslim nations but both sides must work together against global challenges, the British foreign secretary said.

David Miliband admitted that London’s interventions from the Crusades and colonialism to the invasion of Iraq had created distrust in many countries, with the latter war causing ‘a sense of bitterness, distrust and resentment’.

But he said the challenges of climate change, terrorism and financial crisis required a united effort born of better understanding on both sides, as well as a resolution of conflicts such as in the Middle East.

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May 25

Muslim chef loses tribunal case

Muslims of England No Comments »

A Muslim chef who accused the Metropolitan Police of religious discrimination when told he must handle pork has lost his tribunal case.

Hasanali Khoja was told he would be expected to handle pork products at his new job at the Empress State Building in Earls Court, west London.

The 60-year-old from Edgware, north-west London, also said racist gestures were made to him when he complained.

The force was it was “pleased” at the tribunal’s decision.

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May 25

Dutch anti-Islam lawmaker loses bid to stop hate speech trial

Muslims of Netherlands, Western of Anti islam No Comments »

Far-right Dutch extremist Geert Wilders lost a legal bid Wednesday to stop his pending trial for inciting hatred and discrimination against Muslims.

“The attorney general is of the opinion that there are no grounds” for a further appeal, the Dutch Supreme Court said in a statement.

Lawyers for Wilders had sought to overturn a ruling by the Amsterdam Court of Appeals in January that he should be prosecuted for a series of public anti- Muslim statements, particularly for comparing Islam to Nazism.

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May 25

Islamic groups want Sharia law

Muslims of Germany No Comments »

Some Muslim groups in Germany want to live under Sharia law in Germany, according to a new study.

The annual report for the Protection of the Constitution revealed that active groups like ‘Milli Görüs’ want to be able to live under the strict Islamic rules.

And the secret service’s yearly report, which will be revealed today by Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, contains some other schocking warnings:

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May 25

Illegal halal meat butcher network uncovered

Muslims of France 1 Comment »

An illegal network of Halal meat providers was found and dismantled in the French region of Toulon today.

Several presumably involved persons have been detained for questioning, among them the alleged head of the ring, a 63 year old farmer and breeder.

Various food dealers and intermediaries as well as religious Muslims who gave their consent for the sale of the Halal meat are amongst the detainees.

The network, according to information from the investigation, had been active since July 2007, its total production equal almost 40 tonnes of meat. The slaughterhouse clients included private buyers, such as Kebab and Halal meat vendors.

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May 25

London: Thousands join march to protest against Israeli action

Muslims of England No Comments »

Protests against the Israeli offensive in Gaza became heated last night when thousands people gathered outside the country’s London embassy.

People of London have protested Israeli actions against the Palestinians, urging Tel Aviv to put an end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip.

A pro-Palestinian group, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, organized a peaceful street demonstration in central London on Saturday, which attracted thousands of supporters.

The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli siege since June 2007 when the democratically-elected Palestinian government of Hamas took control and decided to defend what little land the Palestinians have left.

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May 25

UK Muslims urged in vote in European elections

Muslims of England No Comments »

The UK’s two million Muslim community is being urged to participate in next month’s elections to the European parliament to prevent right-wing extremists from being elected for the first time.

“Active participation of the Muslim community is imperative to prevent Islamophobic groups like the British National Party (BNP) to gain a foothold because of low voter turnout,” the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said.

“The BNP will be stoking up anti-Muslim hatred to win a seat. They need one million votes, and once they get in, they will join Islamophobes on continental Europe to attack Muslims and other minorities,” the MCB warned.

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May 25

Liverpool Cathedral Plays ‘Anti-Faith’ Song

Muslims of England No Comments »

The Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral will play Saturday, May 16, an ‘anti-religion’ song, arguing that the move would stir people to consider their relationship with God.

“Ringing the heaviest peal in the world is a challenge in itself,” a spokesman for the Cathedral told the BBC.

“But that the team have been able to produce this performance is fantastic.”

A team of seven volunteer bell ringers will play the controversial 1971 song “Imagine” of former Beatle John Lennon.

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May 25

Amsterdam Islam Congress resounding success

Muslims of Netherlands No Comments »

Around 1,000 people attended the first National Islam Congress in Amsterdam yesterday. The event was organised by the Institute of Islamic Studies in order to highlight Islam’s diversity and promote dialogue.

There were numerous discussions and workshops as well as lectures given by Islamic scholars from numerous countries including Saudi Arabia, United States, Britain and the Netherlands.

Participants, both Muslim and non-Muslim, discussed various issues including citizenship, the position of Muslim women, Sharia law and Salafism, a fundamentalist Sunni Muslim movement.

The Institute for Islamic Studies says today’s congress was an overwhelming success and a follow-up will be organised.

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May 25

Stickers against Quran displayed in Prague underground, Brno

General Problems of Europs Muslims 2 Comments »

Prague - Stickers against the Quran have appeared around the mosque in Brno and in the Prague underground probably with the aim to stir up conflicts and encourage prejudices, Vladimir Sanka, deputy head of the Muslim Communities Centre, told CTK on Tuesday.

“We know nothing about it. We are not investigating any similar case,” Prague police spokeswoman Eva Miklikova told CTK on Tuesday. The stickers quote passages from the Quran that are allegedly at variance with the human rights concept in the Western world, which is supported by references to the Human Rights Declaration.

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May 25

Religious Affairs Directorate to teach Europe about Islam

General Problems of Europs Muslims, Muslims of Belgium No Comments »

The Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs will open an office in Brussels next month to teach Europe about Islam.

During the pope’s visit it was decided that Turkey’s presence in Europe proves the possibility of the peaceful coexistence of Islam and Christianity.

Starting from there, it was concluded that Turkey, with its secular state and Muslim identity, could be a good reference for Muslims living in Europe.

In order to block efforts to create misunderstandings about Islam and stir up Islamophobia in the continent, the Directorate of Religious Affairs decided to open a bureau in the European capital. This decision was supported by the pope, too.

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May 25

Catholic-Muslim relations

General Problems of Europs Muslims No Comments »

Relations between Catholics and Muslims have improved markedly in recent decades after centuries marked by memories of the Crusades and Ottoman military campaigns in eastern Europe.

Here are some of the major step in that process:

1965: The Second Vatican Council said the Catholic Church regarded Muslims “with esteem” and urged both faiths “to forget the past and work sincerely for mutual understanding.”

1968: Vatican begins sending Ramadan greetings to Muslims.

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May 12

The Fifth Islamic Manuscript Conference, Cambridge

Muslims of England No Comments »

The Islamic Manuscript Association announced that the Fifth Islamic Manuscript Conference will be held at Christ’s College, University of Cambridge, UK from 24-26 July 2009 and will be hosted by the Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation and the Centre of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, University of Cambridge.

In 2009, the Conference will specifically address the issue of access to manuscripts. Improving access to manuscripts through digitisation and electronic ordering and delivery systems whilst ensuring their proper long-term preservation is fundamental to the successful future study of the Islamic heritage.

 Presently, technologies are available that have the potential to transform the way manuscripts are studied; however, the access these technologies can allow is counterbalanced by collection holders’ concerns regarding their legal rights and the financial sustainability of their organisations.

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May 12

Islamic Finance Firms Set Sights on France

Muslims of France No Comments »

France is creating a suitable environment for Islamic financing institutions to operate in the country, the French Minister of Economy, Industry and Employment said in Doha on Monday.

“We have modified the tax environment and are currently in the process of modifying the legal environment to allow for Islamic finance to set up shop in France,” Christine Lagarde told reporters.

She said two major Qatari Islamic financial institutions have already requested for approval to operate in France.

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May 12

Interfaith Conference at House of Lords on May 12

Muslims of England No Comments »

Markazi Imam Hussain Council is hosting an interfaith conference on Syeda Fatima Zahra (SA) at the House of Lords in London on May 12 to promote sectarian harmony, built bridges and highlight the important role played by the ladies in Islam.

This is the first time that such an event is taking place in the British Houses of Parliament arranged through the courtesy of Lord Nazir Ahmed.

The conference title is: ‘Honoring the Lady of Light, reflections on Syeda Fatimah Zahra (SA)’.

According to Chairperson of MIHC, Barrister Rubab Mehdi, this unique event is being organized to mark the birth anniversary of Fatimah Zahra (SA), the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), and a central female figure honored and revered by Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

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May 12

Demonstrators Protest against Anti-Islam Rally in Cologne

Muslims of Germany No Comments »

Police in Cologne say about 1,600 people have protested peacefully against racism and a controversial “anti-Islam” rally held by right-wing groups that oppose the building of a large new mosque in the city.

Hundreds of left-wingers and members of church groups, trade unions and the Green party held a demonstration in Cologne to counter an “anti-Islam” rally organized by two rightist groups.

“Today we’re sending a signal that democrats stand united against right-wing radicalism, racism and agitation,” said Reinhard Bütikofer, former head of the Green party, who took part in the rally in downtown Cologne.

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May 12

Islamophobia Has Roots in People’s Insufficient knowledge of Islam

Muslims of Bulgaria 1 Comment »

Deputy grand Mufti of Bulgaria said that islamophobia in Bulgarian society has roots in people’s insufficient knowledge about Islam which plays into the hands of opportunists to foment Islamophobia.

Bir Ali Momen rebuked the anti-Islamic article of professor Wasilev, philosophy professor at Sophia University, who had attacked Islamic principles in an article titled ” Aspects of Pan-Islamism.”

He lamented that media were engaged in baseless issues and without having proper understanding of religion promote false ideas and concepts about philosophy of religions. “Unfortunately, media have introduced Islam as a menacing phenomenon and the public mindset has accepted it in the long term.”

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