Paris: France’s highest administrative court has upheld a decision to deny a French passport to an Algerian Muslim who refused to shake hands with officials during her citizenship ceremony, according to a ruling seen by AFP Thursday. The woman argued that her “religious beliefs” prevented her from shaking hands with a senior official presiding over…

ISLAMABAD: Malala Yousafzai said that Islam had taught her the value of education and said that her message to the world was only of peace.  “The first ayat that was revealed from the Holy Quran is named Iqra, which means read,” she said. Malala was speaking to a foreign news agency in Islamabad where she…

KARACHI: Mohammed bin Salman, the powerful Saudi crown prince has said that the investments in mosques and madrassas overseas were rooted in the Cold War, when allies asked his country to use its resources to prevent inroads in Muslims countries by the Soviet Union. In an interview with the Washington Post, the Saudi crown prince…

Reported by: Noor-ul-Arifeen QUETTA: A fine arts student of Quetta’s I.T University has won hearts with his knowledge and expertise in the art of Islamic calligraphy. Abdul Qadar discovered his artistic capabilities eight years ago when he started painting, sketching and calligraphy. Soon, he started Islamic calligraphy. Abdul Qadir said that he has written 17…

NEW YORK: The city of New York has agreed to pay $180,000 to three Muslim women forced by police to remove their headscarves to have mug shots taken, officials said Wednesday. Each of the women is to receive $60,000 after the settlements were finalized in a Brooklyn federal court earlier this week, their lawyer Tahanie…

NEWS DESK: The Danish government is poised to become the next European country to introduce a ban on Islamic full-face coverings in public places, reported The Independent with additional input by Reuters. The government said it planned to fine people who wore items including the burqa and the niqab which are worn by some Muslim…

BERLIN: The far-right, anti-Islam Alternative for Germany (AfD) party confirmed reports in the German media that one of its politicians, Arthur Wagner, has converted to Islam. He was a prominent member of the party known for its virulent anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant stance. Arthur Wagner said he had resigned his party membership after deciding to become…

NEW DELHI: In a big move, the Indian government Tuesday announced to withdraw subsidy for Hajj pilgrims, and use the funds for girls’ education and minority women. Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi made this announcement. The minister added that “Hajj subsidy funds will be used for educational empowerment of girls and women of minority…

LE CAIRE: Egypt’s grand mufti has said that bitcoin is forbidden in Islam, warning the digital currency could be used for criminal purposes. Bitcoin, launched in 2009 and based on a peer-to-peer payment system, poses “high risks to individuals and states,” Shawqi Allam said in a published ruling. It could provide “stable and secure financial…

NEWS DESK: Amidst protests from a few political parties, including those close to the BJP, the Lok Sabha on Thursday passed by voice vote the Bill that makes instant triple talaq or talaq-e-biddat a criminal offence, with a jail term of up to three years, reported The Hindu. The proposed law would be applicable to…

British-Pakistani boxer Amir Khan received death threats and abuses from followers on Instagram after he posted a picture of a Christmas tree that he had set up in his house to surprise his daughter, on Wednesday.  Amir Khan is one celebrity who quite regularly posts on Instagram to let fans have a peek inside his…

BEIRUT: Air strikes by a US-led coalition killed 23 civilians Wednesday in a village held by the Islamic State group in Syria’s eastern Deir Ezzor province, a monitor said. “At least 23 civilians, among them eight children and six women, were killed Wednesday before dawn by air strikes carried out by the US-led coalition, targeting…

ISLAMABAD: PTI chief Imran Khan on Wednesday questioned why Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif was present at the Organisation of Islamic Summit (OIC) held in Istanbul.  “What is CM Sharif doing at OIC Summit in Turkey? Why were the other Chief Ministers not taken along also?” tweeted Imran before launching his tirade at Prime Minister…

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Friday that the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem would probably not take place for at least two years. “This is not something that is going to happen this year or probably not next year, but the president does want us to move in a very…

Children welcome Prince Karim Aga Khan upon his arrival in Islamabad on Thursday. Photo: APP ISLAMABAD: Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, arrived in Islamabad on an official visit to the country on the invitation of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday. Minister for Foreign Affairs Khowaja Mohammad Asif,…

For centuries now, Jerusalem has been at the heart of many conflicts and wars. The city holds special importance and is revered by the three most important religions in the world–Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Which is exactly why Trump’s hasty decision to declare Jerusalem (all of it) as Israel’s capital and his announcement to shift…

Prince Karim Aga Khan is the 49th imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. He arrives in Islamabad today. NEWS DESK: Prince Karim Aga Khan, the 49th imam and spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad today (Thursday) for an official visit. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had officially invited…

AYODHYA: Three Hindu activists who were involved in razing Babri Masjid to the ground in 1992 have converted to Islam. For three persons who once were regarded as heroes in their own villages for razing down Babri Masjid, the act is now a crime that they deeply regret. The guilt-ridden former Kar Sevaks (activists) have…

NEWS DESK: A Polish-born Britain First supporter who said he wanted to “kill a Muslim” gave a Nazi salute and shouted “white power” before driving at a curry house owner, a court has heard, reported The Independent. Marek Zakrocki, 48, launched his drunken attack outside Spicy Night, a takeaway in Harrow, north-west London, on the…

By Minerwa Tahir KARACHI: Let an attack happen. Blame either of the following: India, Afghanistan, Israel, US, Illuminati. Repeat. We as Pakistanis are more familiar with this pattern than our history. Perhaps this is going to be our history – what other tales will we have to pass on to our children? That is, if…

NEWS DESK: A supply teacher’s call to police about a six-year-old Muslim boy with Down’s Syndrome led to his family being investigated for terrorism, reported The Independent. Officers launched the probe after six-year-old Mohammad Suleiman allegedly kept repeating the words “Allah” and “boom” in class. His parents from the Texan city of Pearland, around 20…