altmuslim this week - june 29, 2009 - This week, reeling over the death of Michael Jackson (or is it Mikaeel?), a brutal (and brutally unfair?) new film about the stoning of women in Iran, and our good friend Farah Pandith - the most effective behind-the-scenes American Muslim you've never met - is promoted to a new office by Secretary Clinton.
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US outreach to Muslims in good hands - Several of us at altmuslim have had the opportunity to work with Farah Pandith, who has just been appointed by Secretary Clinton to be a special representative to Muslim communities worldwide.  (June 27, 2009)
Her name is Neda - Many have died tragic - and silent - deaths in the post-election violence in Iran. But one woman, Neda Agha Soltan, became a symbol with her death caught on video. Here, Neda's fiancee, Caspian Makan, comments on her story in comments transcribed exclusively for altmuslim.com.  (June 25, 2009)
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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)
altmuslim review 031 - Oh, Bama! What does the election of Barack Obama mean for American Muslims, who were both courted and shunned during a long campaign? We speak with American Muslim Democratic activists who were gathered in Washington for the historic inauguration. (March 5, 2009)
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Recent and upcoming talks and offsite articles by altmuslim contributors
State-sponsored Sufism, Ali Eteraz, Foreign Policy, June 10, 2009.
Pushing the Envelope Without Breaking It, Shahed Amanullah, The Mosque in Morgantown, June 2, 2009.
Obama in Egypt: Let the unsaid be said, Zahed Amanullah, Patheos.com, May 28, 2009.
Zahed will be a panelist at Divan 2.0, a debate on the future of the Muslim internet sponsored by the Radical Middle Way at the London School of Economics in London, England, May 22, 2009.
Once Were Radicals (published by Allen and Unwin), the first book by Associate Editor Irfan Yusuf, is released in Australia, May 4, 2009.
Shahed and Wajahat will be speaking at the 3rd Annual Leadership Summit presented by the Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals in Princeton, NJ, May 2, 2009.
Shahed will be leading a workshop on Media Strategies & Techniques at the Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow conference in New York, NY, April 24-25, 2009.
Bringing it all back home, Wajahat Ali, The Guardian, Comment is Free, April 9, 2009.
Zahed will be conducting a two day workshop on Blogging and New Media for Italian students at the United States Embassy, Rome, Italy, April 8-9, 2009.
Crusading for Modern Islamic Art, Shahed Amanullah, Beliefnet, March 26, 2009.
Wajahat will be speaking at the Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow conference in Doha, Qatar (January 16-19, 2009)
Finding the middle ground, Hesham Hassaballa, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 8, 2009.
Shahed will be speaking about Muslims in the political process at the 8th annual Texas Dawah Convention in Houston, Texas (December 27, 2008)
Skyscraping ambition for Mecca, Ali Eteraz, The Guardian (UK), Comment is Free (December 18, 2008)
Zahed will be leading a technology workshop for European Muslim professionals at the Salzburg Global Seminar, Salzburg, Austria (November 16-20, 2008)
Zahed will be a keynote speaker at the inaugural meeting of the Network of European Muslim Technology Entrepreneurs, in Madrid, Spain (November 14, 2008)
Shahed will be a featured panelist at Red Faith/Blue Faith: Religion in the 2008 Election and Beyond at the Center for American Progress in Washington, DC (November 7, 2008)
Let the Global Islamic Conspiracy Begin, Ali Eteraz, Jewcy, (November 5, 2008)
Zahed will be a guest on Press TV's Islam & Life, hosted by Tariq Ramadan, speaking on French and American Muslim experiences (November 3, 2008)
Zahed will be a guest on Irish broadcaster RTE's Spectrum radio show, speaking about Barack Obama and the Muslim factor in the US presidential election (November 1, 2008)
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Media appearances and analysis featuring altmuslim editors
Islamic Society reaches out to other faiths - "ISNA is very interested in extending their connections with Protestant groups," said Rafia Zakaria, an Indiana lawyer and associate editor at altmuslim.com, a Web site that looks at Muslim issues. "Having a figure as high profile as him gives them legitimacy to extend those kinds of alliances with church groups that have a significant amount of power in the United States." (June 21, 2009)
American Muslims, Jews rate Obama’s speech - "He was really pressing for people to say in public what they say in private. Everybody knows what the solutions to a lot of these problems are and I think there is vast agreement on what they are going to be. But nobody really talks about it and puts the cards on the table," said Shahed Amanullah, editor of the Web site altmuslim.com. (June 5, 2009)
A place to explore Muslim American life - "The biggest challenge facing us is more internal - asking the deeper question. Okay, now that we know that we are Muslim Americans or American Muslims, whatever you want to call us, what does that mean?" (May 23, 2009)
The great potential for online Muslim media - "A recent study in the US implies a correlation between non-Muslims who fear Islam and those who don't know any Muslims. The more Muslims get to know their non-Muslim neighbours, the more ability they will have to influence them." (April 29, 2009)
Obama’s entreaty to Islam surprises Muslims - "Here's where the American public is going, and here's where Obama is going and trying to head it off," said Shahed Amanullah, editor and publisher of altmuslim.com. The Bush administration asked Amanullah for help in shaping dialogue with the American Muslim community. "He's heading it off on a global level," Amanullah said. "He's starting at a core of the problem. The core of the problem is the crisis overseas." (April 8, 2009)
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Muqtedar Khan
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CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Muqtedar Khan
Newark, Delaware USA

Dr. Muqtedar Khan currently serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Delaware, and is a non-resident Fellow at the Brookings Institution. He earned his Ph.D. in International Relations, Political Philosophy, and Islamic Political Thought from Georgetown University in May 2000. Dr. Khan is also associated with the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy and the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. He has been the President, Vice President and General Secretary of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists. He is the author of American Muslims: Bridging Faith and Freedom (Amana, 2002) and Jihad for Jerusalem: Identity and Strategy in International Relations (Praeger, 2004). His forthcoming books are titled Beyond Jihad and Crusade: Rethinking US policy in the Muslim World (Brookings Institution, 2006) and Islam, Democracy and Political Theory (Lexington Books, 2005). Dr. Khan frequently comments on BBC, CNN, FOX and VOA TV, NPR and other radio and TV networks. His political commentaries appear regularly in newspapers in over 20 countries. He has also lectured in North America, East Asia, Middle East and Europe. Dr. Khan writes a regular Weblog called Globalog. His articles on Islam and American Muslims can be read at Ijtihad and his commentaries on global politics can be read at Glocaleye. |  |
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Mideast Politics
One step forward, two steps backward
By Muqtedar Khan, June 18, 2009 Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinajad are ensuring through their recent actions that the peaceful and just solution to the Arab-Israeli problem inspired by President Obama is harder to reach. ( 0 comments)
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Pope Benedict XVI
The Pope meddles in the East
By Muqtedar Khan, May 18, 2009 It is hard to predict what the Pope has accomplished on his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, which essentially used interfaith relations as a means to mediating international relations. But nevertheless, he spoke with sincerity and faith as he linked justice with peace. ( 4 comments)
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Torture
Torture is evil, not a forensic technique
By Muqtedar Khan, May 8, 2009 According to most experts of torture, barring a few like Dick Cheney, torture is ineffective. If we have to waterboard people hundreds of times, then either torture doesn’t work at all, or we have some really very sadistic and mean people working in our government. ( 34 comments)
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Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman
Flirting with fascism
By Muqtedar Khan, April 24, 2009 For better or for worse, the US has been an incredible friend to Israel. Will Israel prove its friendship to the US or will its current flirtation with fascism undermine this long-standing alliance? ( 3 comments)
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Conflict in Gaza
Democracy’s moral recession
By Muqtedar Khan, January 4, 2009 Unless we wake up and change course very soon, there may be no difference left between democracy and terrorism - and that will be the ultimate victory for terrorism. ( 19 comments)
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Terrorism in India
The messages from Mumbai
By Muqtedar Khan, December 1, 2008 The Saudis have succeeded in reducing terror through dialogue and re-education of youth. In Iraq, the US won over the Iraqis who had joined Al Qaeda through dialogue and political and monetary incentives. Why can't the same creative approach be brought to South Asia? ( 71 comments)
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Election 2008
Mavericks: Action without thought
By Muqtedar Khan, October 6, 2008 Peggy Noonan, a strong supporter of Gov. Sarah Palin, gushed in the Wall Street Journal that Palin "is not a person of thought but of action." Action without thought - that is what we will get if we put McCain and Palin in the White House. ( 31 comments)
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Terrorism in Pakistan
Celebrating Ramadan, jihadi style
By Muqtedar Khan, September 23, 2008 In the month of Ramadan, when even frowning is undesirable, some Muslims with poisoned minds have chosen to murder and maim indiscriminately. ( 15 comments)
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US Foreign Policy
Time for US-Iran détente
By Muqtedar Khan, July 29, 2008 A gesture of friendship from Bush, a surprise visit to Tehran by Rice, or a gift of six passenger aircrafts, should be enough to send Ahmedinajad packing in the elections due in 2009. ( 11 comments)
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Gujarat Minister Narendra Modi
Hitler’s avatar tries again
By Muqtedar Khan, July 16, 2008 Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat in India, is once again seeking a US visa to visit some of his supporters. As before, those who recall his complicity in the 2002 Gujarat riots will endeavour to keep him out. ( 7 comments)
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International Diplomacy
Global peacemaking without the US
By Muqtedar Khan, June 22, 2008 For six decades, the US has been the primary mover behind the emerging global order, as well as its main underwriter. But if the US turned its back to the global order and refused to sustain it, or lost the capacity to do so, would it collapse? ( 6 comments)
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Interfaith dialogue
The imam and the rabbi
By Muqtedar Khan, May 9, 2008 In one evening, we did not solve the great problems that plague US-Islamic or Jewish-Muslim relations. But Jews and Muslims who were there went home a bit more hopeful. ( 3 comments)
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Crisis in Pakistan
A coup within a coup
By Muqtedar Khan, November 5, 2007 Pervez Musharraf's declaration of emergency both derails the latest effort to usher in democracy and brings Pakistan's political stability to the tipping point, emboldening the Islamist opposition in the process. ( 7 comments)
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US/Muslim world relations
The US-Pakistan tango
By Muqtedar Khan & Kamran Bokhari, March 25, 2007 The tangled relationship between Washington and Islamabad has its roots in shortsighted strategies on both sides. But it's still better to be strong allies than adversaries. ( 9 comments)
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Terminology
Agreeing on a definition of Islamophobia
By Muqtedar Khan, December 20, 2006 American Muslims must work with our government to challenge anti-Islamic discourse and correct some of the misunderstandings that the government itself may be harboring. ( 13 comments)
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Islam in the West
Islam in Oxford
By Muqtedar Khan, October 12, 2006 The Muslim population of Oxford is a good example of a well-integrated Muslim community in the West. Other European Muslim communities would do well to follow their lead. ( 9 comments)
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War in Iraq
There is a third way
By Muqtedar Khan, October 2, 2006 So far there are two plans for Iraq: staying the course and scheduling an early withdrawal. In my opinion, neither plan truly safeguard's America's security. ( 21 comments)
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Lebanon Crisis
Is the US part of the problem?
By Muqtedar Khan, July 28, 2006 All major US goals in the region - democracy promotion, support for moderates, winning hearts and minds, undermining support for radicalism - will be buried under Lebanon's debris. ( 2 comments)
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Middle East Crisis
America fails to defend its interests
By Muqtedar Khan, July 14, 2006 An escalation of violence between Israel, Hezbollah, and Hamas serves no one's interests, not even Israel's or Americas. And yet, Arabs and Muslims continue to suffer. ( 48 comments)
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Islam in Germany
Mosques with foreign flags
By Muqtedar Khan, June 1, 2006 With Islamophobia on the rise in most western countries, in your face displays of allegiance to foreign nations can only be described as spectacularly stupid. ( 49 comments)
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Islamic thought
Two theories of Ijtihad
By Muqtedar Khan, March 28, 2006 Muslim societies today have to distinguish between Islam and culture, retain their Islamic essence and reform dysfunctional cultural habits that hinder development. ( 1 comments)
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Palestinian Elections
In Hamas victory, an opportunity for change
By Muqtedar Khan, January 31, 2006 What can be a more spectacular advertisement for the idea that democracy makes politicians out of terrorists than the electoral victory of Hamas in the recent Palestinian elections? ( 1 comments)
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Islam in the West
Between integration and discrimination
By Muqtedar Khan, December 12, 2005 While discrimination against Muslims in America has certainly risen after 9/11, it looked insignificant compared to what Muslims in Belgium face routinely. ( 6 comments)
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Fighting extremism
Karen Hughes & American Muslims
By Muqtedar Khan, September 10, 2005 US policies must change, and if she can communicate that this change is genuine and not cosmetic, then we will see some positive progress. ( 3 comments)
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Qur'an desecration
Far worse than Abu Ghraib
By Muqtedar Khan, May 19, 2005 It will take more than a retraction and another empty "Pentagon enquiry" to ameliorate the anger towards the US that is now felt widely in the Muslim world. ( 11 comments)
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The politics of headscarves
Epistemological hijab
By Muqtedar Khan, April 20, 2005 The Hijab has become a site for the cultural struggle between Islam and modernity and between contemporary and traditional interpretations of Islam. ( 4 comments)
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Narendra Modi's US Visit
American Business & genocide linked again?
By Dr. Muqtedar Khan, March 11, 2005 Perhaps "Hotel Gujarat", a film about genocide in India, will open with a shot of Narendra Modi being honored by the Asian American Hotel Owners association. ( 1 comments)
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Islam In The West
The threat of internal extremism
By Muqtedar Khan and John L. Esposito, February 18, 2005 The struggle for acceptance of Islam and Muslims in the West cannot be divorced from the acceptance of the West within its Muslim communities. ( 1 comments)
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Terror In Darfur
Can American Muslims do something?
By Muqtedar Khan, July 2, 2004 It began with the indiscriminate use of violence against civilians. Now some Muslims are determined to unleash their venom against other Muslims too. ( 1 comments)
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Terrorism and al-Qaeda
Memo to Osama bin Laden: Go to hell
By Muqtedar Khan, February 26, 2003 Islam was sent as a mercy to humanity, yet Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda has made it the currency of hate and violence. ( 0 comments)
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