The new year is already in full swing and as usual, Muslims are continuously making international headlines for a lot of different reasons.
In the list below we've compiled a short summary of six of the most sensational stories of 2016 that involve the Islamic religion, Muslims in America and around the world. Read our list for more information about what Muslim Millennials are thinking and saying, why a Muslim cleric heaps praise onto the US, how hoards of people are gathering for Islam and, of course, how Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has affected the masses with some rather strong anti-Muslim, anti-immigration rhetoric.
Did a Muslim you know or an Islamic event you attended not make our list? Let us know in the comments below for its inclusion next time.
Why Noor Tagouri Wants To Be The 1st Hijabi Journalist in the USA
Noor Tagouri is a motivational speaker and journalist who aspires to be the first hijabi journalist to be an anchorwoman on American television. Today, Tagouri, 22, has earned a significant online following through the #letnoorshine campaign, and has become a well-known public speaker on the experience of being Muslim-American. As Islamophobia remains at an all-time high, Tagouri's professional visibility feels particularly necessary.
Muslim Woman Removed from Trump Rally
A Muslim woman who stood in silent protest at a rally for Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump was removed from the event Friday night in Rock Hill, South Carolina, CNN reported.
The woman, who identified herself to CNN as 56-year-old Rose Hamid, stood up in a section of seats just behind Trump wearing a hijab, a turquoise shirt that said "Salam, I come in peace". Hamid was booed and heckled as she was escorted out and is being hailed as brave by Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
Controversial Dolce & Gabbana Focus on Family in New Campaign
Dolce & Gabbana has taken its signature style to a new, largely untapped market: Muslim women. The house debuted its "Abaya Collection," which features luxurious abayas and hijabs, over the weekend.
The collection comes in a variety of neutral tones and features floral prints reminiscent of those DG presented in its Spring 2016 collection. Stefano Gabbana expressed his "fascinat[ion] with the Middle East" last July when hinting about the collection, and the recent release is a true melange of classic DG style and cultural influences originating from that region.
Hundreds Gather to dispel fears of Muslims
Hundreds of people gathered Sunday in Woodland, California to promote unity between community members and Muslims as tensions surrounding the religious group grow. The spiritual confluence called Hands Around the Mosque, which was held at theWoodland Mosque and Islamic Center, lifted people out of their comfort zone as they learn to show more compassion, especially to the Muslim community.
Muslim Cleric Heaps Praise on US telling Muslims they have important role
A prominent Tunisian Muslim cleric took the opportunity of his speech at a New Jersey mosque to blast Muslims for an alleged lack of industriousness and supposed high rates of illiteracy as he heaped praise on the U.S. for its productivity and acceptance of different religions, including Islam.
Abdelfattah Mourou — a co-founder of the Islamist Ennahdha Party who also currently serves as vice president of the Tunisian Parliament — added that American Muslims play a unique role as “a beacon and a model” for other Muslims.
“Your prophet left you as a power in this world, as ‘the best nation that ever appeared in this world,’” the cleric said but then lamented that much has changed since Islam was at the forefront of math and science and called for Muslims to regain knowledge and respect of knowledge from old times.
New poll shows that Muslim millennials r committed to faith; recognize need for renewal in Muslim discourse buff.ly/1l0eE8O
Muslim Millennials Views on Religion
At the close of 2015, Zogby Research Services (ZRS) conducted face to face polling of 5,374 Muslim youth between the ages of 15 to 34 in eight Arab countries: Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and Palestine.
What we learned was that, in the main, Muslim millennials were committed to their faith; recognized a need for renewal in Muslim discourse; saw a need for a more visible role for women in religious life; believed that religion would play an important part in their country's future; and rejected extremist groups as a perversion of their faith.
