Hesham Hassaballa
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CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Hesham Hassaballa
Chicago, Illinois USA
Hesham A. Hassaballa is a Pulmonary and Critical Care physician currently practicing in the greater Chicago area. He has written extensively on a freelance basis, being published in the Chicago Tribune as well as other newspapers around the country and around the world. He has been a Beliefnet columnist since 2001, and he is also a columnist for the Religion News Service. In addition, Dr. Hassaballa is associate editor of Illume Magazine.
Dr. Hassaballa is author of the essay "Why I Love the Ten Commandments," published in the book Taking Back Islam (Rodale), winner of the prestigious Wilbur Award for 2003 Best Religion Book of the Year by the Religion Communicators Council. He is also co-author of the book The Beliefnet Guide to Islam, published by Doubleday. In addition to writing, Dr. Hassaballa helped found the Chicago chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations and has served on its executive board. More of Hesham's writings can be found on his blog, God, Faith, and a Pen. | |
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 | | | Fasting | |
Ramadan and God’s love By Hesham Hassaballa, August 11, 2010 You can fake prayer: you can pray in front of other people so that they can say you pray. You can fake giving alms; you can fake going to Mecca. But you can’t fake fasting. And that is how we can show our love for God.  ( 3 comments) |
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 | | | Gender segregation | |
On second thought… By Hesham Hassaballa, June 16, 2010 Recent admissions by some clerics in Saudi Arabia that the monarchy's strict gender segregation may have been the result of Qur'anic misinterpretations could help align that country more towards its moderate peers. But it also raises questions about the infallibility of past Islamic rulings. ( 17 comments) |
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 | | | Niqab | |
Cover up, your hatred is showing By Hesham Hassaballa, May 10, 2010 Politicians in Europe should understand that freedom works both ways. If cartoonists are free to draw or insult the Prophet Muhammad, then Muslim women should be free to wear niqab if they choose to do so. ( 15 comments) |
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 | | | The Hutaree | |
Another man’s freedom fighter By Hesham Hassaballa, April 7, 2010 It is much easier to see the "other" as being depraved enough to become a terrorist. With the arrest of nine Hutaree militiamen last week, we know that it is much more difficult to see it in white, Christian America. ( 4 comments) |
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 | | | Obituary | |
Remembering Sister Aminah Assilmi By Hesham Hassaballa, March 10, 2010 Aminah Assilmi, who passed away last week in a tragic automobile accident, was a tireless advocate for Muslim women's rights and equality within the framework of Islam itself. She was also a renown scholar, prolific writer, and well-known speaker who will be sadly missed. ( No comments) |
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 | | | Christmas | |
A Muslim Christmas greeting By Hesham Hassaballa, December 25, 2009 I am very happy to wish my Christian friends and neighbors a hearty "Merry Christmas", for, even though we see Jesus through different religious lenses, our love for Jesus is one. ( 3 comments) |
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 | | | Elected Muslims | |
Hard work and an easy smile By Hesham Hassaballa, December 14, 2009 Two contrasting examples in America's November elections show that Muslims can either overcome fear and prejudice against them to win elected office, or they can use fear and prejudice against their opponents and lose. ( 8 comments) |
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 | | | Eid and Thanksgiving | |
A beautiful juxtaposition By Hesham Hassaballa, November 25, 2009 Thanksgiving should be spent in giving thanks to our Lord for all the blessings and goodness we have received. And this year, there could not be a day that is more fitting to coincide with Thanksgiving than the day of Arafat. ( 11 comments) |
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 | | | Clothing bans | |
Burqini blues By Hesham Hassaballa, September 7, 2009 Those who wish ban the Burqini, as is happening in Europe, should simply say, "We don't like Muslims swimming in our pools." Any other justification, such as hygiene or "disturbing small children" simply doesn't hold water. ( 31 comments) |
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 | | | Hizb-ut-Tahrir | |
Practicing what they preach? By Hesham Hassaballa, July 27, 2009 In their first US conference, Hizb-ut-Tahrir, the global Islamic caliphate movement, claims to "project a positive image of Islam to the West and engage in dialogue with Western thinkers, policymakers and academics." Their actions, tactics, and past antics strongly belie this contention. ( 11 comments) |
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 | | | Politics | |
The elected women of Kuwait By Hesham Hassaballa, June 3, 2009 Although women have become heads of state in Muslim countries such as Pakistan, Senegal, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, women have a long way to go to achieve full political and social equality. The electoral victory of four women in Kuwaiti elections is a huge first step. ( 2 comments) |
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 | | | NY terror arrests | |
A more chilling plot? By Hesham Hassaballa, May 29, 2009 Although we must all be vigilant against this or any other attack against any community, the recent arrest of four "dimwitted" would-be terrorists, egged on by a paid government informant, continues a worrying trend of fishing expeditions substituting for real intelligence. ( 4 comments) |
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 | | | Extremism | |
Does Islam need a reformation? By Hesham Hassaballa, April 22, 2009 Given the often terrible news about Islam, it is only natural to wonder whether Islam itself is the problem. Yet, as tempting as it is to apply the Christian experience as analogy, it is a flawed premise from the very beginning. ( 51 comments) |
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 | | | Darfur | |
Rallying to the wrong cause By Hesham Hassaballa, March 13, 2009 It took an indictment by the International Criminal Court to rally the Muslim world to the cause of Darfur. But Muslim countries are rallying to support Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir, rather than to support the victims of the Darfur tragedy. ( 30 comments) |
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 | | | Guantanamo detainees | |
Do not put them to death By Hesham Hassaballa, January 30, 2009 As satisfying as it would be, as soothing to the inner rage that burns in all Americans from the slaughter of 9/11, we should not put the alleged 9/11 terrorists to death if they are convicted in a court of law. ( 16 comments) |
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 | | | Christmas | |
Christ in the Qur’an By Hesham Hassaballa, December 25, 2008 Jesus wanted to free them from the shackles of the legalism that choked off their spirituality. Christ returns in the Qur'an with the very same message, although Christ does not speak one word. ( 4 comments) |
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 | | | Hajj 2008/1429 | |
Standing alone among millions By Hesham Hassaballa, December 8, 2008 The Hajj was the most powerful experience I have ever had, and its sights, sounds, and smells are as fresh today as they were nearly six years ago when I performed the once-in-a-lifetime trek to Mecca. ( 16 comments) |
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 | | | Answering atheism | |
Religion, good and evil By Hesham Hassaballa, October 27, 2008 It is quite easy to look at all this pain and suffering committed in the name of religion and conclude that religion itself is the problem. Yet, this criticism misses the point. Religion is not the problem: It is the so-called "religious" who are.
( 12 comments) |
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 | | | Terrorism | |
The dilemma of the “die-hards” By Hesham Hassaballa, October 8, 2008 If the military option is not defeating Al Qa'ida, what are we to do against the small number of "die hard" militants who will never be convinced that their version of "jihad" is satanic in nature? ( 23 comments) |
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 | | | Smoking | |
A time to kick the habit By Hesham Hassaballa, September 18, 2008 Ramadan is all about changing our behavioral patterns to make ourselves better. Thus, we should take the opportunity of the fast of Ramadan to break the habit of smoking. ( 4 comments) |
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 | | | Free speech | |
Something better By Hesham Hassaballa, June 20, 2008 There will always be those who attack and smear Islam with lies, falsehoods, half-truths, and generalizations. All we have to do is respond with facts, not bombs, Molotov cocktails, burned embassies, burned flags, death fatwas, or even lawsuits. ( 26 comments) |
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 | | | Free will | |
Alarm over Allam? By Hesham Hassaballa, April 7, 2008 If Magdi Allam decides to leave Islam, that is his business, and he will answer to God for his decision. No one should brace for an angry response, because an angry response is completely unnecessary. ( 13 comments) |
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 | | | Reverend Jeremiah Wright | |
Could a Muslim ever say that? By Hesham Hassaballa, March 22, 2008 Unlike the comments of Barack Obama's former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, any anti-American statement by an American Muslim leader would immediately be considered tantamount to sedition. ( 50 comments) |
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 | | | Valentine's Day | |
A true love story By Hesham Hassaballa, February 14, 2008 I can find no love story more powerful, more spiritually uplifting, more awe inspiring as that of the Prophet Muhammad and Khadijah. It is a shining example of what an ideal marriage is. ( No comments) |
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 | | | US Elections | |
Barack’s opportunity By Hesham Hassaballa, January 5, 2008 When the whispers of Barack Obama's Muslim heritage first surfaced, Obama remained almost completely silent. When the whispers emerge once more, this opportunity should not be lost again. ( 31 comments) |
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 | | | Waterboarding | |
Drowning for justice By Hesham Hassaballa, November 9, 2007 Why on earth is there any doubt that waterboarding - basically a form of drowning - is a form of torture? What will it take to convince us all, Senators and Attorneys General included, to reject it? ( 1 comment) |
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 | | | Movie "Rendition" | |
Nothing ordinary about “Rendition” By Hesham Hassaballa, October 24, 2007 A new movie about the controversial practice of "extraordinary rendition" may be more educational than entertaining, but that doesn't make it any less important ( 5 comments) |
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 | | | Defining sharia | |
Faithful questions about Islamic law By Hesham Hassaballa, August 10, 2007 The purpose of the Sharia is to promote justice and the common good. In a minority of instances, however, the Sharia has been an instrument of injustice and intolerance.
( 35 comments) |
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 | | | Suicide Terrorism | |
The betrayal of suicide bombers By Hesham Hassaballa, July 20, 2007 Getting to heaven is tough work, and it requires a lifetime of struggle against human weakness and temptation (along with God's grace), not the press of a button on a suicide belt. ( 25 comments) |
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 | | | Extremism among US Muslims | |
Going after the devil By Hesham Hassaballa, May 27, 2007 Although the findings of the recent Pew poll are generally positive, dismissing some of the more concerning ones would be terribly irresponsible. ( 2 comments) |
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 | | | VT victim Waleed Shaalan | |
Let me tell you about my brother By Hesham Hassaballa, April 24, 2007 He may not be my "blood" brother, but Waleed Shaalan, who died saving a stranger at Virginia Tech, was my brother in faith, a faith that teaches about the sanctity of life. ( 37 comments) |
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 | | | Islamic law in the West | |
Leave the Qur’an out of this, please By Hesham Hassaballa, March 22, 2007 It is bad enough that there are Muslims who use the Qur'an to justify domestic violence; now we have a German judge who - wittingly or not - has done the same thing. ( 25 comments) |
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 | | | Salt Lake City Murders | |
Poof! He’s a terrorist! By Hesham Hassaballa, February 16, 2007 Unless the facts bear otherwise, Mr. Talovic is just another criminal who has committed a terrible act of violence in our country. The fact that he is Muslim is absolutely irrelevant. ( 2 comments) |
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 | | | Sectarian Violence in Iraq | |
Return of the Arabs By Hesham Hassaballa, January 28, 2007 The vicious violence in Iraq is no longer about Sunni vs. Shi'i. It is the return of the Arabs - by which I mean a return to the ignorance of pre-Islamic Arabia. ( 20 comments) |
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 | | | Reflections | |
Our real enemy By Hesham Hassaballa, January 4, 2007 Let us resolve, in this year 2007, to stop throwing stones at each other and start throwing stones at Satan: our real enemy. ( 13 comments) |
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 | | | Hajj reflections | |
Of birth and re-birth By Hesham Hassaballa, December 25, 2006 I arrived in Mecca and beheld His House for the first time, not being able to hold back my tears. I was immediately humbled by the Awesome Power of God, by His Almighty Majesty. ( No comments) |
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 | | | Interfaith Understanding | |
So that you may know one another By Hesham Hassaballa, November 28, 2006 The Qur'an anticipates the fact that there will be a plurality of religious communities on the earth, and that this diversity is part of God's divine plan. ( 1 comment) |
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 | | | Muslims Today | |
For those who are conscious of God By Hesham Hassaballa, November 12, 2006 The difficulties found in the Muslim community today remind me of the hadith that foretells when keeping one's faith would be like holding hot coals. ( 3 comments) |
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 | | | Torture and Interrogation | |
Why we should not torture By Hesham Hassaballa, October 30, 2006 It is possible that useful information may be gleaned by using torture. Yet, much more often, the information gathered through torture is not useful at all. ( No comments) |
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 | | | Concepts of God | |
God is the king By Hesham Hassaballa, October 22, 2006 Part of our rights as citizens of this blessed country is the pledge to defend and follow the Law of the land. It is not right that we pledge to uphold the law and then betray that pledge. ( 4 comments) |
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 | | | Reflections | |
God has 99 names By Hesham Hassaballa, October 11, 2006 Islamic tradition counts 99 names or attributes for God. I want to reflect on them and try to understand what they mean for me. ( 2 comments) |
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 | | | Terminology | |
If not “Islamic fascists,” then what? By Hesham Hassaballa, September 29, 2006 We can complain about the use of the term "Islamic fascist", or we can come up with our own term that is more accurate and push for its use. ( 4 comments) |
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 | | | Middle East Conflicts | |
Another vision of the “new Middle East” By Hesham Hassaballa, September 10, 2006 While visions of a "new Middle East" focus on political change in Arab countries, that political change won't come unless a fair solution to land conflicts is made possible. ( No comments) |
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 | | | Middle East Mediation | |
Time for a new “honest broker” By Hesham Hassaballa, July 30, 2006 When studying the actions of the United States throughout this entire Middle East crisis, can one honestly say that they are those of an "honest broker"? Absolutely not. ( 12 comments) |
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 | | | Sectarian Violence in Iraq | |
Not in my name By Hesham Hassaballa, July 5, 2006 According to many people, we should move beyond the past. Fine, let us then talk about the present goings on in Iraq - starting with allegations of raping Iraqi civilians. ( 8 comments) |
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 | | | Muslims in the West | |
Integration is a two-way street By Hesham Hassaballa, June 7, 2006 Not only must Muslims be willing to extend their hands to their non-Muslim neighbors, but those non-Muslim neighbors must also be willing to extend their hands in return. ( 9 comments) |
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![]() | | | Language and Interpretation | |
A new understanding of “kufr” By Hesham Hassaballa, May 14, 2006 Muslims use the word "kufr" and "kafir", but do they really understand their meanings? Could there be more nuanced understandings that remain uncovered? ( 16 comments) |
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 | | | Apostasy in Islam | |
Let God be the judge By Hesham Hassaballa, March 31, 2006 The Qur'an is very clear on this: There's no compulsion in religion. So why is an Afghan Christian convert being persecuted? ( 1 comment) |
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 | | | Wafa Sultan | |
A lost opportunity By Hesham Hassaballa, March 13, 2006 As I listened to Dr. Wafa Sultan speak about the crimes committed by Muslims throughout the centuries, I thought to myself, "Here we go again." ( 224 comments) |
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 | | | Domestic wiretapping | |
President Bush and the rule of law By Hesham Hassaballa, February 26, 2006 If we compromise on our values simply because our enemy is brutal and inhuman, then everything that has been done on behalf of America will have been for nothing. ( No comments) |
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![]() | | | African-American Muslims | |
Why my daughter should have MLK day off By Hesham Hassaballa, January 18, 2006 If it weren't for brave Americans like Dr. Martin Luther King, immigrant Muslims would not have been able to establish themselves and build mosques and Islamic schools. ( 7 comments) |
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 | | | Inspiration | |
Finding wisdom in a Christina Aguilera song By Hesham Hassaballa, January 1, 2006 The Prophet taught us that "Wisdom is the 'lost animal' of the believer. Wherever it may be, the believer belongs to it." This means that we must find wisdom wherever it may reside. ( 22 comments) |
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 | | | Religion and Society | |
Do we really trust in God? By Hesham Hassaballa, December 19, 2005 A nation that trusts in God knows that God will always lend His Helping Hands so long as it does what is right. ( 3 comments) |
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 | | | Extremism | |
Why did you say that? By Hesham Hassaballa, August 2, 2005 "Why did you say some of those things? Why do you want to make Muslims look bad? They already are saying those things about us. So, why do you have to say it?" ( 2 comments) |
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 | | | Integration in France | |
Should imams in France learn French? By Hesham Hassaballa, June 29, 2005 Every single imam in France should about learn about the French language, culture, and civic life. I believe it is their religious obligation. ( 2 comments) |
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![]() | | | Freedom of religion | |
If it’s wrong, it’s wrong By Hesham Hassaballa, April 21, 2005 What if a bunch of FBI agents had raided a Muslim's apartment and destroyed a makeshift mosque there? Muslims around the world would have been up in arms, and rightly so. ( 1 comment) |
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![]() | | | Responding to Rand | |
Fighting manipulation with conspiracy? By Hesham Hassaballa, March 25, 2005 The Muslim world does not need the RAND Corporation to "divide and conquer" the Muslims. Muslims have done quite an amazing job of that by themselves. ( 8 comments) |
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![]() | | | Spirituality | |
Letter to my beloved By Hesham Hassaballa, March 17, 2005 We need your gentle hands, your heartwarming smile, your profound wisdom, your stalwart strength, and your kind demeanor. ( 7 comments) |
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![]() | | | Community | |
Do I have “ummah-itis”? By Hesham Hassaballa, February 25, 2005 If my shedding of tears over Muslims being killed in Darfur or deep concern about homeless survivors of the Tsunami is "Ummah-itis", then I don't want to be cured. ( No comments) |
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![]() | | | Rebuilding Iraq | |
What if Iraq goes Islamic? By Hesham Hassaballa, February 20, 2005 I can almost sense the nervous trepidation in Washington, because I am almost certain that this was not the outcome they had hoped for. ( 1 comment) |
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altmuslim this week - august 23, 2010 - This week, is there a connection between the heated rhetoric over Park51 and increased hate crimes against Muslims? Also, parallel struggles against anti-Muslim protests in Bradford, England and the innovation (and integration) on display in the 30 Mosques, 30 States and 30 Nights, 30 Grants projects.
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How Miss USA will push the secret Muslim agenda - A leaked memo confirms a nefarious plot to infiltrate America using the one weapon we can't resist: Total hotness. (May 17, 2010)
South Park: The controversy continues - In a special for Salon.com, our Associate Editor Wajahat Ali offers his take on the controversy over South Park. If you think South Park's Muslim brouhaha was messy, you should see what's going on in the neighboring town of East Park. (April 28, 2010)
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altmuslim review 033 - We're baaaaack! We speak about the ongoing controversy over Park51 and what means for the future of lower Manhattan. Also, a discussion with Farhad Chowdhury of the M100 Foundation, which seeks to change the way Muslims pay zakat (August 13, 2010)
altmuslim review 032 - Muslim writers everywhere! We speak about the new wave of Western Muslim literature and interview two authors with recently released books. Our own Irfan Yusuf talks about his memoir, Once Were Radicals and Reza Aslan tells us more about his second book, How to Win a Cosmic War (June 11, 2009)
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Recent and upcoming talks and offsite articles by altmuslim contributors
It's the occupation, stupid, Wajahat Ali, Salon.com, June 4, 2010
Sex and the City 2's stunning Muslim clichés, Wajahat Ali, Salon.com, May 28, 2010
Draw Muhammad Day: Collectively Punishing Muslim Americans, Shahed Amanullah, Huffington Post, May 25, 2010
Shahed will be a guest on the BBC World Service's World, Have Your Say discussing the proposed French ban on niqab (and fines for husbands who compel their wives to wear them) on May 18, 2010.
Even Controversial Views Should Be Protected by Freedom of Speech, Asma Uddin, The Huffington Post, May 7, 2010.
What I understand about Faisal Shahzad, Wajahat Ali, Salon.com, May 6, 2010
No freak out about South Park, Zahed Amanullah, The Guardian, Comment is Free, April 23, 2010.
Shahed will be a guest on the BBC World Service's World, Have Your Say discussing the South Park controversy along with Zarqa Nawaz (Little Mosque on the Prairie) and other guests on April 22, 2010.
Shahed will be a guest on NPR's State of Belief discussing Barack Obama's outreach to the Muslim world, April 17, 2010.
Zahed will be attending a panel discussion entitled " Are Islam and Free Speech Compatible?" in London, England on Friday, March 26, 2010 sponsored by The City Circle. He will be accompanied by Riazat Butt (The Guardian), Hamid Khan (Consultant in Offender and Youth Development), Abu Muntasir (JIMAS), and Dr Usama Hasan.
'Jihad Jane': not the usual suspect, Wajahat Ali, The Guardian, Comment is Free, March 18, 2010.
Al-Awlaki, a new public enemy, Zahed Amanullah, The Guardian, Comment is Free, December 30, 2009.
Islamophonic: Review of the year, Riazat Butt, Zahed Amanullah and David Shariatmadari, Cif Belief (The Guardian), December 18, 2009.
Fort Hood has enough victims already, Wajahat Ali, Comment is Free (The Guardian), November 6, 2009
The pitfalls of filming Muhammad, Shahed Amanullah, The Guardian, Comment is Free, November 4, 2009.
Children of Dust (published by HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins), the first book by longtime altmuslim.com contributor Ali Eteraz, is released in the US, Canada, and the UK on October 13, 2009.
Shahed will be attending the m100 Sansoucci Colloquium in Potsdam, Germany, September 14-16, 2009. He will be moderating a panel discussion on the Danish cartoon crisis with Denis MacShane MP, Jasim Al-Azzawi (Al Jazeera English), and Flemming Rose (Jyllands Posten).
Associate Editor Wajahat Ali's play "The Domestic Crusaders" is having its premiere at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City, NY, September 11, 2009. The play will continue through Sunday, October 11, 2009.
Shahed will be moderating or participating in three panel discussions at the Islamic Society of North America's annual convention, including Muslim Journalists: The View from the Inside, Supporting Social Entrepreneurs and Civic Leaders, and Blogistan: Muslim Americans on the Web in Washington, DC, July 3-6, 2009.
State-sponsored Sufism, Ali Eteraz, Foreign Policy, June 10, 2009.
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Media appearances and analysis featuring altmuslim editors
Helping U.S. reach out to young Muslims worldwide - Soon after Farah Pandith was named last year as the State Department's first special representative to Muslim communities, she sat down with the editor of an independent Muslim website for her first official interview. Altmuslim.com, a forum for opinion and analysis about current issues facing Muslims, was a fitting choice. Pandith has said a strong focus of her work is to reach out to younger Muslims around the world, often those most likely to use the Internet for news and networking. (June 5, 2010)
Censorship is in the ascendant - Zahed Amanullah, associate editor of altmuslim.com, has argued in a national newspaper blog that, since the warning came from an unrepresentative group, the media interest was not justified. As for events of the past – the fatwa on Salman Rushdie, the Danish cartoons, the murder of van Gogh – they were "three incidents over a 20-year period from amongst 1.6 billion people. These things do happen. But we all need a bit of perspective." (April 30, 2010)
Muslims say new security rules unfair, ineffective - ''Muslims are doing their duty. Muslim parents are being attentive. It's the TSA that's not being attentive. It's the TSA that's not doing its duty," said Shahed Amanullah, an editor at the Web site altmuslim.com. "There's nothing more that Muslims can do than turn in their own families." (January 7, 2010)
US Muslims & media… Lost love - "We have a big problem; it’s that other people are shaping the story about us," Shahed Amanullah, editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com, told IslamOnline.net. (December 16, 2009)
Moves to Seize Mosques Spark Outrage - "I'm extremely skeptical that the link between these mosques and this organization is so strong as to merit the seizing of a considerable amount of assets that do a lot of good for the Muslim community," says Shahed Amanullah, a prominent Muslim blogger based in Austin. "The government better be prepared to make a very good case, because this is unprecedented." (November 17, 2009)
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