By Sepideah Mohsenian-RahmanThe holy day of Ashura, marking the 10th day of Muharram or the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar, holds special significance within Islam. Its significance is rooted in honoring one of the most important Prophets of the monotheistic faiths, Moses (Musa). Ashura marks the day that God saved the Children of Israel from…
By Sepideah Mohsenian-RahmanIn the latest scandal to emerge out of the “War on Terror,” the Pentagon paid more than $650 million dollars to a British public relations firm to fabricate Al Qaeda videos. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism revealed Sunday that the Pentagon contracted the controversial British Bell Pottinger PR firm to create short propaganda films and segments…
By Sepideah Mohsenian-RahmanSince 2015, Canary Mission has launched a campaign to blacklist students and faculty engaged in work to highlight and put an end to human rights abuses carried out during the 60+ year illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine. Or, as they put it, “The Canary Mission database was created to document the people and groups that are…
By Sepideah Mohsenian-RahmanAt 5:30 AM on Thursday, September 22, 2016, a man was inside his car when neighbors heard “There you go, Muslim,” before an explosive device was thrown into the victim’s car. The victim is badly burned on his face, arms, hands and legs, but was taken to nearby Temple Hospital and is in stable condition….
By Sepideah Mohsenian-RahmanFrom Sept. 7 through Sept. 25, the Lady Liberty Theater Festival is being showcased in New York City. The brainchild of ordained minister-turned-playwright, Monica Bauer, and actor/writer, Aizzah Fatima, the festival combines their own work to combat Islamophobia through the arts amid the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. The Festival features two short plays each night,…
By Sepideah Mohsenian-RahmanA 36-year-old Muslim woman had her blouse set on fire, Saturday night while standing outside of NYC’s Fifth Avenue Valentino store. The woman recalls a man setting her blouse on fire, and then fleeing the scene. She was able to contain the flames herself, and was left unharmed. No arrests have been made. The NYPD Hate Crime…
By Sepideah Mohsenian-RahmanIn the early morning of Eid al-Adha, the mosque that was occasionally attended by Pulse nightclub shooter, Omar Mateen, was set ablaze in an intentional act of arson, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. Video footage released by authorities shows a man entering The Islamic Center of Fort Pierce around 12:30 AM with…
By Sepideah Mohsenian-RahmanThe Sept. 11 tragedy undoubtedly shook and re-structured the core of the American experience. While Islamophobia predated the 9/11 attacks, there is no doubt that Muslim communities, and those who were mislabeled as Muslims, saw an increase of faith and race-based harassment, violence, murders, surveillance and incarceration since the attacks. With the up-strike of social…
