Geeking out at SXSW Interactive - There is no better place to mingle with other geeks than at South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive, one of the largest Internet-focused conferences in the country, where we presented a panel discussion on "Online Extremism - And The Muslims Who Fight It"  (March 20, 2008)
Like “Groundhog Day” - What happens when you get 200 academics, activists, policy wonks, politicians, and journalists - all with opinions across the spectrum - into a room to try to determine the best course of action to improve the relationship between the US and the Muslim world? Unfortunately, not much.  (February 24, 2008)
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altmuslim review 027 - This month, we have a special report from the US-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar. Also, an interview with Dalia Mogahed, co-author of the forthcoming book "What a Billion Muslims Really Think" (March 7, 2008)
altmuslim review 026 - The US presidential race is in full swing, and we discuss Muslim involvement in the campaigns and our attempts at a block vote. Also, a perspective from recently elected San Carlos city councilmember Omar Ahmad. (January 29, 2008)
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Recent and upcoming talks and offsite articles by altmuslim contributors
Shahed will be participating in a panel discussion, Sourcing Islam, at the Religion Newswriters Association conference in Washington, DC (September 20, 2008)
Zahed will be a guest on BBC Radio 4's " Sunday" programme speaking about religious podcasting (May 4, 2008)
Rafia and Shahed will be guests on South Africa's Channel Islam, speaking about interpreting Islam in the modern world (March 28 & April 4, 2008)
Shahed will be speaking at the CAMP International Leadership Summit in Princeton, NJ (March 29, 2008)
Shahed will be a guest on Radio Tahrir, airing on WBAI 99.5 FM in New York, speaking about the Muslim block vote (April 1, 2008)
Shahed will be appearing on The Agenda with Steve Paikin for a recap of altmuslim's SXSW panel "Online Extremism" (March 26, 2008)
altmuslim is hosting a panel discussion at 2008 SXSW Interactive, "Online Extremism (And The Muslims Who Fight It)" (March 9, 2008)
Count blessings, then tally taxes - Hesham Hassaballa, Chicago Tribune (February 24, 2008)
'Busharraf' gets the people's message - Irfan Yusuf, New Zealand Herald (February 22, 2008)
Shahed will be participating in the US-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar (February 17-19, 2008)
Sharia an unlikely threat - Irfan Yusuf, stuff.co.nz (February 13, 2008)
Converts' dangerous pull towards extremism - Irfan Yusuf, Sydney Morning Herald (February 7, 2008)
Safiyyah will be appearing on The Agenda with Steve Paikin for a debate on "Today's Young Muslim Women" (February 1, 2008)
Sidelining the loud-mouthed cultural warriors - Irfan Yusuf, Canberra Times (January 10, 2008)
Safiyyah will be guest writing at the TVO website offering commentary on the two-part TV series Britz (February 2008)
Fault lines of a nation - Irfan Yusuf, The Age (December 31, 2007)
Is there room at the inn for a Muslim holiday in America? - Shahed Amanullah, Chicago Tribune (December 23, 2007)
Can Pakistan's non-violent past save its future? - Shahed Amanullah, Beliefnet.com (December 28, 2007)
Not your father's hajj - Shahed Amanullah, Beliefnet.com (December 17, 2007)
Shahed will be speaking at the MPAC Annual Convention in Long Beach, CA about Muslims and new media (December 15, 2007)
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Media appearances and analysis featuring altmuslim editors
Why the silence? - "Both reactionary religion and militant secularism are on the rise, with both displaying a rigid certainty and a desire for power that will do nothing to benefit society. In this context, it is vital that people with open-minded faith speak up and demonstrate alternatives. [altmuslim.com has] set many good examples in this regard." (January 8, 2008)
Does the US tolerate anti-Muslim speech? - "You see more hostility towards Muslims now than you did the year after 9/11," says Shahed Amanullah, editor of a Muslim web-zine, AltMuslim.com. He and other observers point to America's failure to capture Osama bin Laden, the continuing difficulties in Iraq and Afghanistan, and news of terrorist plots overseas as reasons why many Americans feel hostile towards Muslims. (December 7, 2007)
In the great Berkeley free speech tradition - [Amanullah] claims no personal agenda other than concerned dad. “I want my children to grow up in a country where they, as Muslims, feel valued,” he says, “and where their religion doesn’t contradict their nationality.” (November 9, 2007)
Shaping the debate on Muslims - The publication [altmuslim.com] promotes critical analysis, discussion, and debate within the Muslim community in the West while also showcasing commentary for non-Muslims who want a sense of the dialogue going on among Western Muslims. (October 19, 2007)
Blogging Where Speech Isn’t Free (.mp3) - Many nations have no tradition of free speech, and in those contexts, blogging can be extremely dangerous. How can those bloggers protect themselves, and how can we help them? (Panel discussion at SXSW Interactive, Austin, Texas, March 11, 2007) Audio available here. (July 9, 2007)
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Brutally logical
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Journalist Robert Fisk
“We should be partial on the side of justice”
By Wajahat Ali, April 25, 2008
“One thing I’m going to say to you now, please make sure – and I hope you’re tape recording this – but please make sure you’re quoting me accurately. Don’t even for the basis of shortening something make me say something I haven’t said,” orders celebrated journalist Robert Fisk. “Because the biggest problem I have in journalism is being quoted or misquoted and then being asked to defend something I haven’t said. And when you’re putting it together, because you’re not going to use it all, try to make sure my counteracting points are there. So, if I call Ahmedinjad a “crackpot” keep it in, but make sure I’m also talking about Iran in general. Where I’m criticizing the Israelis, make sure I also criticize the Arabs.” The world’s most decorated foreign correspondent would have an equally brilliant career as a headmaster or drill sergeant.  ( 1 comment) |  |
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Director Morgan Spurlock
“There is a vast majority you don’t hear from”
By Wajahat Ali, April 17, 2008 "Super Size Me" director Morgan Spurlock sits down with altmuslim associate editor Wajahat Ali to discuss his experiences filming his latest movie, "Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?" ( 2 comments)
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Journalist Steve Kinzer
The folly of attacking Iran
By Wajahat Ali, April 10, 2008 Associate Editor Wajahat Ali interviews journalist Steve Kinzer, author of the best-selling book All the Shah's Men, on America's creeping military response to Iran. ( 1 comment)
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Journalist Philip Shenon
Omissions of the commission
By Wajahat Ali, March 13, 2008 Four years after its release, the 9-11 Commission report still leaves some unanswered questions. We speak with New York Times investigative journalist Phillip Shenon, whose latest book finds flaws with the report. ( 2 comments)
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Professor John Esposito
One billion Muslim voices
By Wajahat Ali, March 1, 2008 So what do a billion Muslims around the world really think? Georgetown professor John Esposito analyzed the data from a wide spectrum of Muslims from over 35 countries to find the answer. ( No comments)
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Journalist Steve Coll
“Pakistan will realize its own potential”
By Wajahat Ali, February 21, 2008 Associate editor Wajahat Ali speaks to Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Steve Coll on the recent Pakistan elections, the future for President Musharraf, and life in the Northwest Frontier Province. ( 4 comments)
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Authors Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer
“We are not talking about a conspiracy”
By Wajahat Ali, February 14, 2008 Correspondent Wajahat Ali speaks with Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer, authors of the book "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy," about how their groundbreaking book and ideas have been received. ( 2 comments)
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Imam Zaid Shakir
“Radicalism is the realization of marginalization”
By Wajahat Ali, February 2, 2008 Imam Zaid Shakir might seem like a rock star, but he is one of America's most influential Muslim scholars. He speaks to us at length about politics, extremism, and an emerging Muslim American identity. ( 4 comments)
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Journalist Seymour Hersh
“We did more for Osama than he could do for himself”
By Wajahat Ali, January 17, 2008 The New Yorker's Seymour Hersh is a busy man. But he has some convincing opinions about Iraq, Iran, and the "Re-direction." Correspondent Wajahat Ali tracks Hersh down, corners him, and drags out an interview. ( 21 comments)
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Author Asma Mobin-Uddin
The grinch who stole Eid ul-Adha
By Andrea Useem, January 3, 2008 Contributor Andrea Useem interviews author Asma Mobin-Uddin, who's latest children's book The Best Eid Ever helped a new generation of young Muslims enjoy Eid in 2007. ( 11 comments)
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Author Adrian Levy
“We have to honor the wishes of the Pakistani people”
By Wajahat Ali, December 31, 2007 Is Pakistan's nuclear arsenal really able to fall into the hands of al-Qaida? To find out, we speak to Adrian Levy, author of "Deception: Pakistan, the United States, and the Secret Trade in Nuclear Weapons." ( 3 comments)
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Educator Sadek Hamid
“Muslim youth work has yet to be understood”
By Zahed Amanullah, November 16, 2007 Doctoral student Sadek Hamid has created Britain's first university degree programme in Muslim youth social work. We speak to him to find out how programmes like his can make a difference. ( 1 comment)
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"Aliens in America" co-creator David Guarascio
“It was more important he was Muslim than where he was from”
By Wajahat Ali, November 6, 2007 "Mad About You" co-creator David Guarascio has successfully brought a Muslim lead character to US television - in a comedy, no less. Wajahat Ali sits down with the "Aliens in America" co-creator to find out how it happened. ( 9 comments)
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"Allah made me funny" comedy tour
“We’re trying to bring an expression about us, to us, from us”
By Wajahat Ali, October 25, 2007 The successful "Allah Made Me Funny" comedy tour has made people see the world a little differently (after fits of laughter). Founders Preacher Moss and Azhar Usman sit with Wajahat Ali to help explain the punch lines. ( 6 comments)
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Analyst PW Singer
Privatizing terror, outsourcing diplomacy
By Wajahat Ali, October 10, 2007 Wajahat Ali interviews Peter Warren Singer of the Brookings Institute on the turmoil caused by Blackwater and other private military contractors functioning in Iraq ( 5 comments)
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Author Ed Husain
“My qualm is with Islamism and not with Islam”
By Zahed Amanullah, June 3, 2007 Ed Husain's new book The Islamist takes a provocative organisation, calls it a provocative word, and stimulates a provocative debate. We speak to the author about why he did it. ( 20 comments)
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Musician Dawud Wharnsby
“My responsibility is to act with integrity”
By Aisha Qidwae, May 9, 2007 We speak with Canadian singer Dawud Wharnsby, who is eager to correct misconceptions about his popular English-language nasheeds and his current work in folk music. ( 1 comment)
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Musician Kareem Salama
“There’s something reverent about country music”
By Shahed Amanullah, April 17, 2007 For Oklahoma native Kareem Salama, the Islamically-inspired country music he creates is no novelty. We speak with the budding country singer about why his varied influences mesh so well. ( 10 comments)
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Author Daveed Gartenstein-Ross
Fueling islamophobia or building bridges?
By Zahir Janmohamed, March 14, 2007 Daveed Gartenstein-Ross converted to Islam and worked with a charity allegedly linked to al-Qaida. Is his new book cashing in on the experience, or does he have something constructive to say? ( 79 comments)
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Humanitarian Greg Mortenson
From climbing mountains to moving them
By Sadia Ashraf, January 31, 2007 Greg Mortenson was so moved by the people he met while mountain climbing in Pakistan that he returned to build 58 schools and educate 24,000 children. ( 3 comments)
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Comedian Dean Obeidallah
“We can use comedy to foster understanding”
By Zahir Janmohamed, January 26, 2007 Comedian Dean Obeidallah, co-creator of Comedy Central's "The Watch List", explains just how to tell your parents you would rather be a comedian than a doctor. ( 2 comments)
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Filmmaker Zarqa Nawaz
“Comedy has to come from a good place”
By Zahed Amanullah, January 18, 2007 We speak with Zarqa Nawaz, the creator of the Canadian sitcom "Little Mosque on the Prairie," which debuted to a record 2.1 million people and sparked international interest. ( 5 comments)
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Social worker Hussein Yusuf
What lies ahead for Somalia?
By Zahir Janmohamed, January 5, 2007 alt.muslim interviews Somali social worker Hussein Yusuf (himself a refugee) in order to help put the current conflict in Somalia into perspective. ( No comments)
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Artist Saira Wasim
The imagery of clowns
By Zahir Janmohamed, October 23, 2006 "I believe art and freedom of expression can be used to propagate Islam and create awareness in society," says Pakistani-American artist Saira Wasim. ( 2 comments)
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Professor Abdulaziz Sachedina
Fear of a Shia crescent
By Zahir Janmohamed, October 12, 2005 Dr. Abdulaziz Sachedina talks to alt.muslim about sectarianism in Iraq, political maturation in Iran, and the prospects of stability in both countries. ( 3 comments)
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Playwright Wajahat Ali
A Muslim family takes center stage
By Shahed Amanullah, July 14, 2005 Are American theater-going audiences ready to plumb the depths of the American Muslim experience? Playwright Wajahat Ali, a recent graduate of UC Berkeley, thinks so. ( 1 comment)
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