Originally published in The Dallas Morning News Michael Jackson once sang, “It don’t matter if you’re black or white,” but apparently it does matter as is evident by the racial tension across America the past few months, starting with the Ferguson case and the subsequent protests. Then came the brutal murders of two New York City police officers. As a member of the Ahmadi Muslim Youth...
Originally published in San Antonion Express. The tragic loss of children in Newtown, Conn., is heavy on everyone’s hearts. As the parent of a third-grader, my heart wrenches with pain for the parents who will not get to see their children smile again. As a Muslim, I believe that human life is sacred and should be honored. The Holy Quran teaches that taking a single life is like...
The recent Chattanooga shootings sparked the same debate that gets started every time the alleged perpetrator happens to be a Muslim. Islamophobes pounce on it like a drooling dog jumps on a bone. While the rest of the nation is deeply pained by such a horrible tragedy and is offering condolences to the afflicted families, Islamophobes are busy accusing Islam of violence and bloodshed. The notion...
Originally published on Syraquse.com With the holidays around the corner, how must one feel when one moment they’re happily purchasing gourmet chocolate for their families, and the next they’re taken hostage and forced to hold up what is believed to be an ISIS flag. Because of such militant groups, there is an ongoing trend towards radicalization of youth around the world. As members...
To the Times: I applaud the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in favor of Samantha Elauf and the right for Muslim women to have equal opportunity and be free from discrimination in the work place due to their choice of wearing the hijab. I believe this ruling upholds the American value of freedom of religion not just for Muslims but for adherents of all religions such as Jews who choose to wear...
Originally Published in Time There’s an important history behind America’s free speech laws to which the anti-Islam hate group behind the “Draw Muhammad Contest,” is wholly ignorant. While the Islamophobe leading this hate group believes she’s a free speech champion,remarkably comparing herself to Rosa Parks, in reality America’s current free speech model developed as an attempt to protect — not...
Originally Published in Adviser and Source There is no question regarding the condemnation of the attacks in Garland, Texas. As an Ahmadi Muslim I believe whole heartedly in the sanctity of human life and reject violence, terror, and extremism. Interestingly though, Pamela Gellar continues to push the conversation to “Free Speech” and whether or not Islam would agree with it. I...
Originally Published in USA Today Two gunmen opened fire in Garland, Texas, Sunday, outside an event hosted by the American Freedom Defense Initiative. Cartoons of Mohammed were displayed. As a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, I condemn the attacks wholeheartedly. The prophet in his lifetime repeatedly tolerated such abuse. However, the actions that provoked this atrocity also need to be...
Originally Published in Star-Telegram American extremists returned to media coverage this week by descending on Garland. They wasted no time from their last plots of creating disorder, targeting major American cities like San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and New York City. Each attack on American minds went through without failure. Of course, this is a reference to the Islamophobes who came to...
Originally Published in The Oregonian As a Muslim youth who grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, I am deeply saddened and disgusted to see the actions perpetrated by two gunmen in Garland, Texas. Reactions like this go against the very essence of the holy Quran, in which it is written, “When you hear the signs of God being denied and mocked at, sit not with those who indulge in such talk...