Islam

Why the Charlie Hebdo attack is not about images or free speech

By Hussein Rashid / Religion News Service January 9th, 2015

(RNS) Ostensibly, the horrific attack against Charlie Hebdo in Paris was because of the publication’s satirical images of the Prophet Muhammad. But to view the assault as… read more

Who decides who is and isn't a Muslim?

By Shane Raynor January 8th, 2015

On Wednesday (Jan. 7) Howard Dean, a 2004 U.S. presidential candidate and former governor of Vermont, appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and had this to say about … read more

Why does Islam ban images of the Prophet Muhammad?

By Kimberly Winston / Religion News Service January 8th, 2015

(RNS) On Wednesday (Jan. 7), 10 employees of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical weekly, and two police officers were murdered by a band of masked gunmen who shouted “Allahu… read more

Pope Francis challenges Muslims to condemn violence in the name of God

By Josephine McKenna / Religion News Service December 23rd, 2014

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis on Tuesday (Dec. 23) challenged Muslim religious leaders to “unanimously” condemn the violent persecution of Christians in the Middle… read more

Fleeing persecution, Christian converts find safe houses in England

By Trevor Grundy / Religion News Service December 14th, 2014

CANTERBURY, England (RNS) As a 17-year-old convert to Christianity living in Pakistan, Ali (not his real name) was stabbed in the chest and left for dead by Muslims upset he had… read more

Can Jews and Muslims get along? 60 imams and rabbis meet in Washington to try

By Lauren Markoe / Religion News Service November 24th, 2014

(RNS) Frustrated by dangerously high tensions between Jews and Muslims in the Holy Land, 60 imams and rabbis gathered Sunday (Nov. 23) to hatch concrete plans to bridge the gulf… read more