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What Makes A Particular Stock “Halal”? – While the idea of Islamic investing has been gaining favor with Muslims over the past few years, it is becoming increasingly difficult to come up with a generally accepted definition of a halal investment. It’s easy to avoid companies that market goods Muslims consider “impure” (Here’s a tip – shun businesses listed in this “socially irresponsible” Vice Fund), but nearly every company has some dealing with interest income, which violates the Muslim ban on usury. To get around this, some scholars calculate a company’s “impure income ratio” – if it is low enough, it qualifies. But there are other issues that haven’t been considered yet. At a session on Islamic investing at last month’s ISNA convention in Washington, a young Muslim environmentalist questioned why Exxon was on the approved list. “Good point,” one of the Islamic investment gurus said. “We need to look into that some more.”

– Posted by laz-e-boy on Sep 27, 2002 | 8:30 am
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No Hate Crime Charges in Rape of CA Muslim Girl – When an 18 year-old Hindu boy, Sanjay Nair, was arrested on charges that he assaulted and raped his 15 year-old Muslim girlfriend in a California store, his reported remarks to the girl complicated an already serious crime. Nair is alleged to have made “a history of remarks denigrating her religion” both before and during the sexual assault, prompting “hate rape” allegations, according to Palo Alto Police Chief Pat Dwyer. However, the DA evenutally decided not to file hate crime charges. “We don’t believe that was the substantial motivation for that attack,” said Assistant DA Karyn Sinunu. That decision struck a nerve with Bay Area groups such as Maitri and Narika, galvanized into action from previous local incidents involving violence towards women. “It’s still a violent crime,” says Narika’s Nahid Sheikh. “Whether the police charge it as a hate crime, it’s still a misogynist crime.” The case has attracted international attention, particularly because it mirrors the many documented cases of rape and assault in Gujrat, India. Nair, who would have had an additional 3 years in prison if charged with a hate crime, is being held on a $20,000 arrest warrant at the Santa Clara County Jail in San Jose.

– Posted by zahed on Sep 18, 2002 | 12:05 am
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Islam Blooms in Wake of Rwandan Genocide – In the aftermath of the genocide in Rwanda where Tutsis and moderate Hutus were massacred by Hutu extremists in a wildfire of racial hatred, Rwandan society has worked to prevent communal violence from happening again. During the violence, Rwanda’s Muslims (many of whom were intermarried Tutsis and Hutus) hid thousands of desparate Tutsis from rampaging mobs. At the same time, some Christian clergy joined in the killing spree and murdered many Tutsis within their own churches, claiming “God does not want you“. Eight years later, Islam in Rwanda is seeing a dramatic rise in popularity, seen by many Rwandans as promoting unity and racial tolerance. “In the Islamic faith, Hutu and Tutsi are the same,” said Yahya Kayiranga, a Tutsi who was taken in by a Muslim family during the genocide. “Islam teaches us about brotherhood.” The Muslim population of Rwanda has increased from 7 to 14 percent since the genocide.

– Posted by editor on Sep 18, 2002 | 12:05 am
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He Didn’t Lay Low Enough: 9/11 Suspect Caught After TV Interview – Just days after boasting of his involvement in 9/11 with Al-Jazeera journalist Yosri Fouda, Ramzi Binalshibh, roommate of 9/11 ringleader Mohammad Atta and believed to be one of the planners of last year’s attacks, was captured in the lawless alleys of Karachi, Pakistan, by Pakistani and US authorities after four-hour firefight. In the interview, Binalshibh bragged about the attacks (which he called “Holy Tuesday”), let slip a hint that bin Laden may be dead, revealed the target of the fourth plane (the US Capitol), and suggested alternative targets (nuclear power plants). Predictable events have ensued: Fouda fears retaliation by militants who think he tipped off the authorities (he denies this), Bush touts the success of his anti-terrorism policies, the US presses for extradition as quickly as possible, and jihadis on the Internet steadfastly deny that he was even caught at all.

– Posted by zahed on Sep 16, 2002 | 12:02 am
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Parents of 9/11 Victim Boycott Memorial With Muslim Speaker – Another sign that the healing process has a long way to go: The parents of a Hawaii woman killed in the 9/11 attacks refused to attend a memorial service because one of the speakers was a Muslim. “I just felt it was completely inappropriate and 100 percent offending,” said Neal Snyder, father of Christine Snyder. “It’s so distasteful for us,” said Neal’s wife and Christine’s stepmother, Jan. The couple became outraged after hearing that Hakim Ouansafi, chairman and president of the Muslim Association of Hawaii, was invited to speak at the event. “It’s obvious from her statement that her and her family are still suffering, as are many of us,” said Ouansafi, who has been involved in many interfaith services in the aftermath of 9/11. “It saddens me to hear such comments, but it also gives me the resolve to go out there and talk and educate people more. Islam teaches us to have love and compassion for people who even hurt you.”

– Posted by editor on Sep 12, 2002 | 1:04 pm
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Eyes of the Beholders: Sept. 11th Film Draws Fire – Variety magazine called it “stridently anti-American.” The Italian daily Il Foglio called it “garbage.” It being a French-financed film entitled “11’09″01” (that’s Sept. 11th for you Americans) that assembles an international group of directors to explore last year’s terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. The film opened in a dozen countries on Sept. 11th after premiering at the Toronto Film Festival, and the exclusion of America in that group was no accident. “This is now a period of mourning for Americans,” said artistic producer Alain Brigand. “We are not in a hurry for this film to debut in the United States.” The reluctance is easier to understand considering what has upset Americans about the film – an Egyptian entry that blasts US foreign policy and a British entry that chides the US for support of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. The filmmakers dispute the allegations of political motivations, saying they had no prior knowledge of what the directors would contribute. Hollywood’s eventual response, on the other hand, has yet to be decided as it has remained silent on the issue for the past year.

– Posted by zahed on Sep 12, 2002 | 12:05 am
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UK Journalist Detained by Taliban Considers Islam – Soon after the Sept. 11th attacks, British journalist Yvonne Ridley was detained in Afghanistan by the Taliban government and held for 10 days before being released as the US bombing campaign started. The British media was soon ready to hear tales of Islamic barbarism from the 44-year old mother of one. What happened next was a surprise – Ridley converted to Islam instead. Needless to say, her trip to Afghanistan was fraught with danger (including, she says, attempts by the CIA to kill her as a pretext to attack). But the Taliban treated her civilly (relatively speaking). “I promised that if they released me, I’d study Islam when I got back to London,” she said. “And what started out as an academic study has now turned into something much more spiritual. I’m very impressed with what I’ve found.” Ridley will be publishing more reflections in a British Muslim magazine out next month. One of them will be how conversion didn’t change her feelings about the Taliban. “I don’t think I would have been more sensitive. I mean, I was their prisoner. “

– Posted by zahed on Sep 11, 2002 | 12:05 am
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Wanted By The FBI – For A Job, That Is – One of the more unusual sights that greeted attendees at this year’s ISNA convention in Washington, DC was the presence of the FBI, gathered just outside the main entrance of the nation’s largest Muslim convention. No, they weren’t shutting down another charity or rounding up the usual suspects. They were there to look for a few good men & women to recruit. Less than a week after September 11, FBI director Robert Mueller issued an appeal for Arabic and Farsi speakers. The response was “extraordinary”, Mr Mueller recently testified. FBI hotlines shut down under the sheer weight of calls. The good news is that Muslim leaders, and many of the 30,000 convention delegates, were delighted that the FBI asked to attend the convention for the first time in the event’s 39-year history. The bad news is that many delegates, especially young Muslims, expressed suspicion that the FBI wanted them only because it needed insiders to spy on other Muslims. “If they’re looking for translators, then definitely,” remarked one 20-something Muslim. “But as long as they’re not asking people to infiltrate their own communities.”

– Posted by editor on Sep 10, 2002 | 8:35 am
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IN ART & CULTURE (36 stories):

Live from Afghanistan! It’s Saturday Night! – Even though few Afghans have televisions, the return of TV broadcasts in Afghanistan is bringing back game shows, newscasts, and (gasp) women singing. (Aug 15, 2002)

Controversial Country Ballad Narrates “John Walker’s Blues” – A country song about the American Taliban’s misfortunes attempts to put a “Ballad of Davy Crockett” spin on John Walker Lindh. (Jul 22, 2002)

Some Say ‘Wimble-don’t’ to Muslim-Israeli Doubles Team – After a Pakistani Muslim chose an Israeli Jew to be his Wimbledon doubles partner, he made history as the first Pakistani to reach the third round. But his country might still ban him. (Jun 30, 2002)

– More stories and comments here

IN BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY (38 stories):

“Islamic Dinar” Readied For Use in Intra-Muslim Trade – With world markets in flux, Malaysia and other Muslim countries hope to introduce a more stable gold-backed “Islamic dinar” for Muslim traders to use. (Aug 21, 2002)

Separation of Conjoined Twins Poses Islamic Ethical Dilemma – Does doing the “least harm” mean keeping conjoined twins crippled for life or taking the risk to separate them? Islamic scholars grapple with the ethics of separation. (Aug 12, 2002)

Muslims Find New Strength in Consumerism – After watching America take advantage of the globalization trend, Muslim countries find that they have products to offer and the purchasing power to keep them on the market. (Jul 28, 2002)

– More stories and comments here

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