Entries by TMO

Shama Haider makes history as first Muslim elected to NJ Legislature

New Jersey’s Muslim community has made strides in local politics in recent years, winning seats across the state as mayors, council members and school board commissioners. Despite their growing political power, no Muslim has ever served in the state Legislature. That changed on Election Day, however, when former Tenafly councilwoman Shama Haider won the race for state Assembly in […]

Amer Ghalib becomes first Muslim and first non-Polish mayor of Hamtramck Michigan

Three Muslim mayors were elected in Michigan this week making history as the most Muslim mayors elected at once in one state. In Hamtramck, Amer Ghalib defeated Mayor Karen Majewski to become not only the city’s first Muslim mayor, but the city’s first non-Polish mayor in a century. According to the Detroit Metro Times, Ghalib, a health care worker […]

Michigan makes history electing not one but three Muslim mayors as ‘firsts’

by Aysha Qamar The cycle repeats itself. Last year, hundreds of Muslim Americans made history as the firsts in their respected towns and states. This year more join with historic wins as elected officials. Michigan specifically makes history with not one but three firsts for the Muslim community. Three Michigan towns—Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, and Hamtramck—elected their first […]

The Logic of Vaccine Mix n’ Match

by Abdul El-Sayed This article was first published on The Incision Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Disease Control and Prevention authorized and recommended boosters of both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccines. Moderna’s booster comes in just a half dose, and is recommended for people over 65, people over […]

Texas man arrested 11 days after committing killing Muslim man

by Aysha Qamar A Texas man was finally arrested and charged with murder Friday after walking free for more than a week after killing a person of color. Eleven days after shooting and killing Adil Dghoughi, an unarmed Moroccan citizen living in the country, in an unprovoked attack on Oct. 11, 65-year-old Terry Turner was arrested Friday. The […]

Op Ed: Marriage! When does it become a menace?

by Dr. Aslam Abdullah In most cultures and religions, marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman. It is an institution that promotes love, compassion, caring, and sharing. However, several cultures view it as a union between two families and regard it as a religious deed of transfer of ownership of girls. […]

‘We don’t negotiate with terrorists,’ high school math teacher tells Muslim American student

by Aysha Qamar A Muslim Arab American high school student was left “in shock” after a teacher responded to his question about math homework using the term “terrorists.” According to WABC, the teacher from Ridgefield Memorial High School in Bergen County, New Jersey, made the insensitive comment following a question from Mohammed Zubi, a senior student, regarding his […]

Muslim leaders forgive person who vandalized mosque

by Rehan Qamar Despite facing trauma and hate, leaders of a Rochester Hills mosque did not resort to anger, instead the mosque hit by vandals reached out to the person who intent intentionally damaged one of  mosque doors, noting that they had forgiven him. Surveillance video caught a man as he walked to the back […]

Let’s Make the USA a Start Up Nation Again

by Frank F Islam It is well known that the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. has ended many lives and livelihoods. What is not as well known is that the pandemic economy has also given birth to an enormous number of business start-ups. Those new businesses do not compensate for the tragic losses and the costs […]

Facebook is a public health hazard

by Abdul El-Sayed The article first appeared in The Incision On Tuesday, former Facebook data scientist Frances Haugen testified before a Senate subcommittee, putting words to what we all knew but couldn’t quite articulate: Facebook is the modern-day Philip Morris, the tobacco giant that knowingly and intentionally advertised and sold cigarettes to children. Indeed, harrowing accounts […]

Islamophobia is so common that 2 out of 3 Muslims report experiencing faith-related hate

by Aysha Qamar After 9/11, Muslim Americans and people of color nationwide reported more incidents of hate than before. The novel coronavirus has further contributed to this rise of hate crimes against communities of color, with data compiled by the FBI finding alarming rates of incidents reported in 2020 compared to 2019. Amid the alarming rise of hate […]

Gabby Petito died in the same place 700 Native women went missing. Why aren’t we looking for them?

by Aysha Qamar The tragic case of travel blogger Gabrielle (Gabby) Petito has shed light on a number of issues. As her disappearance and presumed death drew massive media attention, advocates noticed the difference when it came to missing women of color. Daily Kos writer Laura Clawson accurately described the situation as a “classic case of Missing […]