Islam

Former soldier jailed for social media posts inciting racial hatred
November 18, 2024 By Faith Matters

Former soldier jailed for social media posts inciting racial hatred

A former soldier who made Facebook posts referring to “civil war” in the aftermath of the Southport attacks has been jailed for two years. Daffron Williams, 40, who served on tours of Afghanistan and Iraq, previously pleaded guilty to a charge of publishing material likely to stir up racial hatred relating to public posts made […]

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Blasphemy Continues to Fuel Extremism in Pakistan & Europe
October 26, 2024 By Faith Matters

Blasphemy Continues to Fuel Extremism in Pakistan & Europe

About six weeks ago, a 32 year old doctor in the Sindh province in Pakistan was shot by police. Shah Nawaz was killed by police who suggested that he was resisting arrest after being accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad. The blasphemy charge was that he had shared ‘blasphemous’ content on social media. Nawaz’s family […]

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Iran clamps down again on headscarf offences
April 14, 2024 By Faith Matters

Iran clamps down again on headscarf offences

Iran is again taking tougher action against violations by women of strict Islamic dress codes, with the start on Saturday of a new drive on observance of the regulations in the Gulf state. Controls were tightened nationwide and women disregarding the requirement to wear a headscarf in public remain guilty of a criminal offence, the Iranian news agency Tasnim […]

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Anaesthetist guilty of injecting partner with drugs during distorted Ruqya exorcisms
August 7, 2021 By Faith Matters

Anaesthetist guilty of injecting partner with drugs during distorted Ruqya exorcisms

A hospital anaesthetist is facing jail after injecting his partner with drugs during a series of exorcism ceremonies, leaving her close to death with multiple organ failure. Hossam Metwally, 60, made dozens of video recordings of himself administering fluids through a cannula to Kelly Wilson while chanting as part of a “dangerous perversion” of the […]

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New charity aims to erect war memorials to recognise Muslim contribution
April 23, 2021 By Faith Matters

New charity aims to erect war memorials to recognise Muslim contribution

A new charity launched to recognise the sacrifices made by Muslims who fought in the British military in the past century is aiming to erect war memorials to commemorate their contributions. The National Muslim War Memorial Trust (NMWMT) said it also wants to educate both students and adults about the role of Muslims in the […]

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Prison chaplain: I may have been ‘conned’ by ‘remorseful’ Fishmongers’ attacker
April 22, 2021 By Faith Matters

Prison chaplain: I may have been ‘conned’ by ‘remorseful’ Fishmongers’ attacker

There was intelligence that Fishmongers’ Hall attacker Usman Khan “might commit an attack” around the time he was released from prison for a terror offence, an inquest jury has heard. Jonathan Hough QC also told the inquests into the deaths of Cambridge graduates Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones there was a suggestion that their killer […]

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Teacher suspended after students shown ‘offensive’ image of Prophet Mohammed
March 25, 2021 By Faith Matters

Teacher suspended after students shown ‘offensive’ image of Prophet Mohammed

A West Yorkshire teacher has been suspended after reportedly showing an “offensive” caricature of the Prophet Mohammed during a religious studies lesson, sparking a protest outside the school. Protesters had gathered outside Batley Grammar School, near Bradford, on Thursday, following claims a member of staff had shown students a cartoon deemed offensive to the Islamic […]

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Turkey pulls out of European treaty protecting women
March 20, 2021 By Faith Matters

Turkey pulls out of European treaty protecting women

Turkey has withdrawn from a European treaty protecting women from violence that it was the first to sign 10 years ago and that bears the name of its largest city. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decree annulling Turkey’s ratification of the Istanbul Convention is a blow to women’s rights advocates, who say the agreement is crucial […]

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Sri Lanka announces plan to ban burka and close Islamic schools
March 13, 2021 By Faith Matters

Sri Lanka announces plan to ban burka and close Islamic schools

Sri Lanka announced plans to ban the wearing of burkas and said it would close more than 1,000 Islamic schools known as madrassas, citing national security. The country’s minister of public security Sarath Weerasekara said he signed a paper on Friday seeking the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers to ban burkas — outer garments […]

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Swiss narrowly back proposal to ban face coverings in public
March 8, 2021 By Faith Matters

Swiss narrowly back proposal to ban face coverings in public

Swiss voters have narrowly approved a proposal to ban face coverings, both niqabs and burkas worn by a few Muslim women in the country and the ski masks and bandannas used by protesters. The measure will outlaw covering one’s face in public places such as restaurants, sports stadiums, public transport or simply walking in the […]

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