Coffee and conversation finds common ground between Muslims and Jews

Religious conversations between Muslims and Jews  take place in coffee shops across Chicago. They gather every other month to discuss religious text and its application to daily life, an attempt to bridge cultures with distinct differences and similarities. Read more ....

Muslims decry 'attacks' over deed holder

Just weeks after trying to make nice at a town hall meeting, Muslim leaders and the office of U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., are again trading charges and countercharges. At a news conference Wednesday, leaders of the Islamic Center of Charlotte said they and other local Muslims were victims of "a campaign of fear and smear" that has sought to link them with terrorism. Read more ....

CAIR: Delaware DMV Apologizes to Muslim Over Hijab Incident

(PHILADELPHIA, PA, 4/13/10) - The Pennsylvania chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-PA) today thanked the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for its "prompt and appropriate action" in offering an apology to a Muslim driver in that state who was initially refused the right to take her driver's license photograph wearing a religious head scarf, or hijab.

The Muslim driver was reportedly told that she had to remove her hijab because of "national security policy." During the incident, another driver waiting in line for a photograph allegedly said "send them back to Afghanistan." The 16-year-old driver, who is of Arab-American heritage, was so traumatized that she broke down in tears.

After being contacted by CAIR-PA, a top DMV official apologized to the Muslim driver and said staff at agency offices statewide have been reminded of existing policy allowing religious attire such as hijab. The Muslim driver will also be allowed to re-take her photograph, with hijab, free of charge at a different facility.

"We thank the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles for its prompt and appropriate action in response to this incident and offer the Muslim community's assistance in helping to re-train DMV staff on issues related to religious diversity," said CAIR-PA Civil Rights Director Moein Khawaja.

Khawaja noted that Delaware DMV policy states: "A Muslim woman may wear a head scarf as long as it does not hide her facial features or interfere with the digital driver license facial recognition technology."

Justice Dept. to investigate imam's death - Paul Egan / The Detroit News

Detroit -- The civil rights division of the U.S. Justice Department has launched an investigation of the Oct. 28 FBI shooting death of Imam Luqman Ameen Abdullah, U.S. Rep. John Conyers said at a news conference today.  More ....

Imam's autopsy confirms 21 gunshot wounds

The Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office released the autopsy of Imam Luqman Ameen Abdullah today, confirming what had been previously reported on the number of gunshot wounds.  More ....

Muslims inventions that shape the modern world - by Olivia Sterns for CNN

London, England (CNN) -- Think of the origins of that staple of modern life, the cup of coffee, and Italy often springs to mind.
But in fact, Yemen is where the ubiquitous brew has its true origins.  More ....

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