Allan Goodson, a mechanic in southern Utah, alleged that he was harassed by his employer and fired from his job because he converted to Islam. News outlets in the Arab world, particularly in Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, have portrayed the recent dismissal of the prime minister and closure of parliament by the Tunisian … Continue reading Islamic Law in the News Roundup
Islamic Law in the News Roundup
Egypt's President Sisi named two new members to the Al-Azhar Council for Senior Scholars, the government institution that is regarded as having final authority to determine whether legislation is compliant with Islamic law. The Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai (IACAD) reported that it received 4,000 fatwā and 2,000 shahāda (declaration of belief … Continue reading Islamic Law in the News Roundup
Islam and Data Science Roundup
The Race Discrimination Commissioner of Australia, Chin Tan, reported national findings suggesting that 80% of Australian Muslims experience some form of unfavorable treatment. According to official statistics from the Mohammad bin Rashid Centre for Islamic Culture in Dubai, more than 2,000 non-Muslim residents took the shahāda (Islamic oath of declaration) in 2021, converting to Islam.
Islamic Law in the News Roundup
Algerian scholar on Islam, Said Djabelkhir, was sentenced to three years of prison for "offending Islam" in three Facebook posts calling for "reflection" on Islam's foundational texts. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan urged Western European countries to criminalize blasphemy against Islam. Faith-based investing opportunities have grown over the past years, as financial institutions and investment … Continue reading Islamic Law in the News Roundup
COVID-19 and Islamic Law Roundup
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A recent study by polling agency YouGov found that vaccine acceptance in Saudi Arabia and the UAE has increased over time. In a video message to German Muslims, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed regret that Muslims had to celebrate Eid under lockdown conditions and thanked them for their "discipline and understanding."
Islamic Law in the News Roundup
This Ramadan, because the duration of the fast varies from city to city based on dawn-to-dust time, the Russian city of Murmansk has the longest fasting time - a total of 18 hours. Standard Bank announced that it launched its first shar'īa discretionary trust offering. Legal experts from the UAE recently stated that a person … Continue reading Islamic Law in the News Roundup
Islamic Law in the News Roundup
Iran's Guardian Council, the 12-member entity tasked with, among other things, ensuring the compatibility of legislation with Iran's Constitution, launched its English website. The UAE authorities announced a new rule that makes it mandatory for companies listed on any UAE stock exchange to have at least one woman on their board of directors. Saudi Arabia … Continue reading Islamic Law in the News Roundup
COVID-19 and Islamic Law Roundup
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As companies continue to develop vaccines against COVID-19, questions about whether these vaccines contain pork-derived ingredients continue to occupy the minds of many Muslims. Salman Waqar from the British Islamic Medical Association stated that "[t]he ḥalāl aspect of it [the Pfizer vaccine] has been noted by several scholars, from Sunnī and Shī'a backgrounds in the … Continue reading COVID-19 and Islamic Law Roundup
Islamic Law in the News Roundup
The pandemic has served as a catalyst for Gulf countries in their bid to adopt Western norms and policies, as declining oil prices, due to the pandemic, has underlined the need for attracting more foreign talent and investment. Russia’s Spiritual Administration of Muslims stated in a ruling that interfaith marriages between Muslim men and non-Muslim … Continue reading Islamic Law in the News Roundup
Islamic Law in the News Roundup
Rochester Institute of Technology professors developed a new board game titled “New Harvest,” which aims at promoting the teaching of comparative religion and religious law. The game is part of a larger series on different religious traditions titled “Lost & Found.” The many and varied forms of sexual harassment was among the subjects discussed at … Continue reading Islamic Law in the News Roundup