Islamic Law in the News Roundup

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“Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton were spreading ‘hateful misinformation’ regarding proposals for a new Islamic themed settlement in the state, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim advocacy group in the United States, told Newsweek.” In the UK, sharīʿa councils “which rule on Muslim marriages have been accused of misogyny and exploiting religious… CONTINUE READING

Islamic Law in the News Roundup

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“Texas Governor Greg Abbott has instructed the developers behind EPIC City, a proposed new Islamic-themed town near Josephine that includes parts of Collin and Hunt Counties, to confirm “within seven days that they are immediately ceasing any construction of their illegal project. . . . The proposal has sparked controversy with accusations the center wants to… CONTINUE READING

Islamic Law in the News Roundup

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“Syria‘s leader Ahmed al-Sharaa . . . reinstated the post of Grand Mufti and established a new Supreme Fatwa Council, according to a decree released by the Syrian presidency. Under Presidential Decree No. 8 of 2025, prominent cleric Sheikh Osama al-Rifa’i was appointed as Grand Mufti of Syria and named head of the newly-created council,… CONTINUE READING

Islamic Law in the News Roundup

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“UNICEF call[ed] on the Taliban to lift ban on girls’ education as new school year begins in Afghanistan.” For more content and context on the recent developments in Afghanistan, consult our Editor-in-Chief, Professor Intisar Rabb’s “Resource Roundup: Afghanistan, the Taliban, and Islamic Law.”  In Afghanistan, “[a] woman and a man were publicly flogged in Ghazni province after… CONTINUE READING

Islamic Law in the News Roundup

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“Iranians [have] voic[ed] renewed criticism over the strict enforcement of Ramadan regulations—which ban public eating and drinking—reinforced by authorities’ threats of harsh punishment.” “Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said Tehran will not seek permission from any country for its nuclear activities, while rejecting allegations that it is pursuing nuclear weapons. . . .… CONTINUE READING

Islamic Law in the News Roundup

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“A seven-member committee appointed by Syria’s interim government is drafting a constitutional declaration, but leaked provisions, including a requirement that the president be Muslim, have fueled controversy over inclusion and democracy.” “In the growing global mode landscape, modest fashion is now not only a trend, but rather an expression of style, identity, and a deeper… CONTINUE READING

Islamic Law in the News Roundup

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“Professor Dr. Ahmed Al Tayyeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar, received Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Elders, at Al Azhar headquarters. The Grand Imam commended Judge Abdelsalam’s dedication to Al Azhar and his contributions to promoting human fraternity at regional and global levels.” “The Islamic police in the northern Nigerian… CONTINUE READING

Islamic Law in the News Roundup

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“A court in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province found two men guilty of sexual relations today and sentenced them to be publicly flogged, an official said.” For more content and context on harsh interpretations and applications of Islamic criminal law, consult our Editor-in-Chief, Professor Intisar Rabb’s “Resource Roundup: Islamic Criminal Law.” For more news blurbs relating… CONTINUE READING

Islamic Law in the News Roundup

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Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, Malaysia‘s Islamic affairs minister, recently clarified that “[p]ublic caning for Shariah offences is carried out outside the confines of prison in a closed-door setting.” “The League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland [West Africa] has declared that Ramadan 1446 AH (2025) will begin on Saturday, March 1, 2025, breaking away from… CONTINUE READING

Islamic Law in the News Roundup

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The Aga Khan IV, the leader of the world’s Ismaili Muslims, passed away earlier this month. The Program in Islamic Law at Harvard Law School offers its condolences to his family and the Ismaili community. “Islamist radicals, long considered a fringe group in Bangladesh, managed to stop two women’s football friendly matches in the north… CONTINUE READING