- A Reuters investigation of Indonesia‘s banking and finance sector revealed that an increasing number of Muslims employed in that sector are “quitting traditional banks” citing concerns of incompatibility with Islamic law.
- Former Minister of European Affairs of Portugal, Bruno Macaes, stated that Islam “is part of European history and culture,” adding that “it’s not a foreign religion, it is a part of ourselves, and can help restore some diversity, vibrancy to Europe.”
- The government of Uzbekistan recently recalled around 1,500 Uzbek students pursuing Islamic studies in Egypt – a move that some critics have described as state control over religious freedom.
- Two Muslim clerics in the Uttar Pradesh state in northern India were arrested on charges of violating the state’s “Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act.”
- Mohamed Iyaz, Islamic scholar and assistant professor at the Maldives National University, was suspended and criticized by Maldivian colleagues and lawmakers for supporting female genital mutilation.
- A Malaysian government task force recently sought to criminalize defaming Islam by “promoting the LGBT lifestyle” on social media.
- Wahed Inc., described as one of the world’s leading Islamic fintech companies, announced that it was seeking to expand into the United Kingdom.