Mr. Dehqan, who turned 19 last week, is one of five young New Yorkers who tell their stories at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in Long Island City. Seated at music stands, they are a chorus of voices gently demolishing the notion of Muslim culture as monolithic. Directed by Mr. Chong, “Beyond Sacred” addresses a…
During an episode of Le Supplement, Francois Hollande debated with a group of five high schoolers. The students, who were not all Muslims, called out the newspaper for being Islamophobic and argued there was a double-standard concerning Charlie Hebdo and comedian Dieudonné. “In France, we can mock religion. It’s even a principle of freedom….
In a short book by Charlie Hebdo editor Charb – whose real name is Stéphane Charbonnier – expressed concern that the fight against racism is being replaced by a struggle against “Islamophobia,” which he argued defends Islam more than it does Muslims. He also defended Charlie Hebdo, which stirred outrage in much of the…
Sharing his journey to Islam two decades after reciting the shahadah, French Muslim soccer player Nicolas Anelka decried the increasing occurrences of Islamophobia and discrimination against North Africans in France. “French people of North African origin try to make things work for them, but French society keeps them in check. There are a lot of…
After the Charlie Hebdo attacks an online initiative called #nietmijnislam (#notmyislam) arose spontaneously. The group distances itself from extremist Islam and favours dialogue, but found it really difficult to find a place for their first gathering in real life. Acccording to one of the initiators Mostafa Hilali one of mentioned reasons for a organization in…
