Fatwas pending
Today is July 20, 2008 | 17 Rajab 1429  
HOME
COMMENT
opinion
BRIEFINGS
analysis
NEWSMAKERS
interviews
REVIEWS
media
VISIONS
photo + video
NEWSLETTER
subscribe
ASIDES
editor's blog
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)

CONTRIBUTORS
PODCASTS
altmuslim review 029 - A vibrant Muslim media could have an opportunity to restore balance to the Muslim public image - if it can get on its feet. In this episode, we explore the state of the Muslim media. Also, an interview with the creator of "Muslim Cafe", Navid Akhtar. (July 5, 2008)

altmuslim review 028 - Where in the world is altmuslim? This month, we report on the halal industry from the World Halal Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and from Milan, Italy where we speak to Italian Muslims about the challenges they face. (May 20, 2008)

ELSEWHERE
Shahed will be participating in a panel discussion, Sourcing Islam, at the Religion Newswriters Association conference in Washington, DC (September 20, 2008)

Shahed will be speaking about the role of the Web in promoting Muslim civic engagement at the ISNA South Central Zone Conference in Houston, Texas (July 5, 2008)

Shahed will give a presentation, Shaping the Public Debate About Muslims, at the Center for American Studies in Rome, Italy (May 12, 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)

IN THE NEWS
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)

CONTENT PARTNERS
Islamica Magazine

Common Ground News Service

Beliefnet

Q-News

Illume Media

The American Muslim


PODCASTS
altmuslim review 006
Podcast six explores ongoing PR efforts by both Muslims and the West to promote understanding, and provides some background on the hundreds of small bombs that rocked Bangladesh this week.
Download the .mp3 version of this show here.

Islamic Relief: A 4-Star Charity

4 COMMENTS ON THIS PODCAST



Links to things we discussed:

alt.muslim podcast in the media: BBC Five Live interview

BBC Panorama programme "A Question of Leadership" and British Muslim views on the issue.

US PR efforts since 9/11: Adventures In Public Relations (Part III) and US Public Relations Machine Needs Some Good PR

More about the Bangladesh bombings


I wonder how many more meetings Mrs. Hughes plans to have. Meeting with leaders at ISNA is fine, as long as she isn't hoodwinked by them into believing that they alone reflect the thinking of the majority of American Muslims. She has taken SO long to start her position already - she should take plenty of time and meet with as many different Muslims as she can.


I share that concern. She seemed to want opinions from a wide swath of the Muslim public - she had met with some Islamic studies professors earlier in the day, and is planning on possibly attending some Muslim events in the DC area to mingle with average Muslims. We'll see.



Salaam aleikum,

anyone who entertained any illusions that this signalled a change in policy or even an attempt at a change is in for a rude awakening...see this below:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/28/AR2005092801429.html

the very fact that she in unrepentant on the Iraq war and continues to pass off the lie that this was for defense of America (even though it had NO WMD and was a threat to no one) means she is either believing her own spin or is conducting this whole exercise as a PR move to show that the administration is trying when it really has no intention of changing course.

I only wished that the invited "guests" of Ms. Hughes had showed more backbone and voiced the same concerns publicly here in the U.S. when they had met with her rather than the non-paid Turkish muslim women did. Would have saved everyone the trouble of listening to her subsequent lies.

salaam aleikum,
g


Page 1 of 1

ADD YOUR COMMENT

You must be logged in to leave comments.


Islamic Relief: A 4-Star Charity