Religion: Persecution, Freedom, and Diversity

Bustle • 30th July 2021

What Is The Rohingya Crisis? Myanmar's Muslim Ethnic Group Has Faced Persecution For Decades

As ethnic tensions continue to unfold in Myanmar, those less familiar with its background may want to know more about it. The plight of the Rohingya people in Myanmar has been making news lately — as well as the silence of Myanmar's Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi on the issue — but what exactly is the Rohingya Crisis, and how did it happen?

The Rohingya are a majority Muslim ethnic group who reside in Myanmar, a country which is predominately Buddhist. There are around 1.1. million Rohin

Bustle • 30th July 2021

Religious Diversity In Congress Is Mirroring America More & More — But There's Still A Ways To Go

Jan. 3 marked the beginning of the 116th session of Congress — and it ushered in some history-making moments. Indeed, with the advent of the 116th session, religious diversity in Congress is mirroring America more and more. While Congress is still more Christian than the American population, the new Congress has the highest number of non-Christian members than any other modern Congress, the Pew Research Center noted.

As Pew reported on Jan. 3, the number of members of Congress who identify as C

Bustle • 30th July 2021

The Youngest Known New Zealand Shooting Victim Was Just 3 Years Old

New Zealand faced a devastating tragedy on March 15 when a gunman attacked two mosques in Christchurch, killing at least 50 people. In the wake of this attack, news has emerged about its victims, who spanned many ages. Tragically, the youngest known New Zealand mosque shooting victim was just 3 years old — and he's being remembered by his family for his joy-filled and wise nature.

Three-year-old Mucaad Ibrahim attended afternoon prayers with his brother, Abdi, and his father at the Al Noor mosq

Bustle • 4th August 2021

The White House Won't Commemorate Ramadan With Its Traditional Reception

On Monday evening, several news agencies reported that the White House will not commemorate Ramadan with its traditional reception. Typically, the Secretary of State hosts a reception for Eid al-Fitr, the end of the holy month of Ramadan. However, Reuters first reported that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson rejected a request from the State Department's Office of Religion and Global Affairs to host the event. By not hosting the reception, Tillerson is deviating from nearly 20 years of State Depa

Bustle • 4th August 2021

Pennsylvania's Attorney General Thinks He & His Peers Are The New Check On Trump

In the two months that Donald Trump has been president, attorneys general across the county have already taken on leading roles challenging his policies. Most of that has been through legal channels, such as when Democratic state attorneys general united to denounce Trump's travel ban executive order in January and later filed an amicus brief in support of Washington's lawsuit against it. But sometimes, it has taken other forms.

Last month, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro made headli

Bustle • 4th August 2021

How To Protest A Muslim Registry To Show Donald Trump This Isn't What America Stands For

Throughout Donald Trump's presidential campaign, he often referred to his desire to establish a "Muslim registry" in the United States. And most recently, Trump's incoming Chief of Staff Reince Priebus indicated that Trump is now currently not planning to create a Muslim registry, but he "[would] not rule anything out." Needless to say, this hardly-reassuring rhetoric indicates that there still exists a strong need to preemptively protest any potential Muslim registry that the Trump administrati

Bustle • 4th August 2021

How To Fight Islamophobia After The Finsbury Park Attack

On Sunday evening, one person was killed and ten were left injured when a van drove into a group of worshippers outside of a London mosque. Police noted Monday that they are classifying the incident as "clearly" a terrorist attack targeting Muslims. In light of this act, you might be wondering how you can help fight Islamophobia after the Finsbury Park mosque attack.

Just after midnight on Sunday, a white van plowed into worshippers as they were exiting the Finsbury Park mosque in North London

Bustle • 3rd August 2021

Who Were The Quebec City Mosque Victims? The Deadly Shooting Took The Lives Of Those Praying

Tragically, on Sunday evening a deadly shooting occurred at the Quebec City Islamic Cultural Center. Reuters reported that at least five people were killed in the incident and many were injured as well. The Quebec City mosque victims were inside praying as they were fired upon by up to three gunmen.

Reuters reported that around 40 people were in the mosque Sunday evening. According to the Islamic Center's president Mohamed Yangui, the individuals present in the mosque at the time were likely mo

Bustle • 30th July 2021

Who Started Muslim Women's Day? This "Muslim Girl" Founder's Making Sure It Goes Viral In 2018, Too

Tuesday, March 27, 2018 marks the second annual Muslim Women's Day, a day meant to celebrate Muslim women and amplify their voices. As people come together in celebration of Muslim women, you may be wondering who started Muslim Women's Day and how the idea for the event came to fruition. As it turns out, an online publication and organization known as Muslim Girl created the event in order to ensure that Muslim women's voices are heard — and that they are better represented and respected in the

Bustle • 3rd August 2021

How To Help The Quebec City Mosque Shooting Victims

On Sunday evening, a tragic shooting occurred at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre; a gunman or gunmen opened fire on at least 40 people who were praying, killing at least six and injuring at least eight, according to Quebec City police. This shooting is horrendous and senseless; it is highly important to help the Quebec City mosque shooting victims in any way you can. Actively speaking out against Islamophobia and promoting solidarity with the Muslim community will be crucial too.

While the m