Islamic World

The Islamic holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, are now recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as religious holidays. This was realized thanks to proposals from Indonesia and dozens of other countries. "Thank God, at the suggestion of Indonesia, and supported by more than 30 countries, UNESCO has recognized Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as religious holidays," wrote the Instagram post @kniukemdikbud, quoted at the end of March 2024. The proof of the recognition of these two Islamic holidays is that UNESCO will not hold official meetings at these two times. This decision also applies to meetings at UNESCO Headquarters in... READ MORE

Based on data released by the World Population Review, Pakistan is currently listed as the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. This South Asian country replaced Indonesia, which had previously held this title. World Population Review reported that the Muslim population in Pakistan has currently reached 240,8 million people. That number represents 98,19 percent of the country's total population. Indonesia is in second place, with 236 million Muslim residents, or 84,35 percent of the total population. In third place is India, with 200 million followers of Islam. Meanwhile, Egypt, with a Muslim population of 90 million, occupies sixth position, Türkiye with... READ MORE

DDHKNews — Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims around the world, has arrived again, full of blessings and opportunities to get closer to Allah SWT. In the midst of joy and togetherness in carrying out worship, it is important for Muslims in Hong Kong to have proper guidance about important times, such as the imsak time for sahur and the five daily prayer schedules. The Hong Kong government has determined that 1 Ramadan will begin on Tuesday, 12 March 2024, as the start of the holy month for Muslims. With this determination, Muslims in Hong Kong can better prepare themselves to observe fasting... READ MORE

The world responded to Israel's brutal action of shooting Palestinian refugees while queuing for food in the Gaza Strip on Thursday (29/2/2024). It was reported that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) immediately held a closed meeting on the same day at the UN headquarters in New York. Diplomatic sources, as reported by AFP, said that the closed meeting was requested by Algeria. Responding to Israel's atrocities, Colombian President Gustavo Petro decided to stop purchasing weapons from the Zionist country. This was conveyed even though Israel has been one of the main providers of weapons for the security forces of the South American country involved in decades of conflict, including against the drug cartel. As reported by AFP,... READ MORE

Good news has just been received by Muslims in New York City, United States. The city, led by Mayor Eric Adams, allows mosques to make the call to prayer every Friday, between 12.30 and 13.30, without having to apply for permission first. The new guidelines were issued by the New York City government on Tuesday (29/8/2023). These guidelines also allow the call to prayer to be made in the evening at sunset, during the month of Ramadan. “Today we are cutting red tape and stating clearly that mosques or any places of worship do not need to apply for a permit for the Friday call to prayer. You are free to live your faith in NYC," said Wali... READ MORE

Denmark is currently working on a bill to ban the burning of the Koran and the desecration of religious symbols. Those who violate are threatened with punishment. "The Danish government intends to criminalize the improper treatment of religious objects that are important to religious communities," said Denmark's Justice Minister, Peter Hummelgaard, quoted by AFP, as reported by CNN Indonesia. Hummelgaard said the bill was aimed primarily at arson or desecration in public places. Apart from the Quran, the law will also apply to desecration of the Bible, Torah and other religious symbols. Violators will be charged with up to two years in prison and a fine. But the law will not cover “verbal expressions or ... READ MORE

Authorities in India destroyed about 300 houses, shops and stalls in the only Muslim-majority district, Nuh, Haryana state last week. One resident in Nuh, Abdul Rasheed, said police locked him in a bus when a bulldozer destroyed his shop. "Im very sad. My family and children depend on the rent we receive from the shop. We rent shops for Hindus and Muslims," ​​Rasheed said, as quoted by Al Jazeera, as reported by CNN Indonesia. He also said the authorities did not notify or show any orders regarding this demolition. "They bulldozed everything," Rasheed continued. In response to the action, the Punjab High Court and... READ MORE

A number of Muslims in Sweden recounted unpleasant experiences while living in a country that often permits the burning of the Koran. As minority citizens, they feel neglected by the Swedish government. Sofia, for example. The 36-year-old woman who works at an adult education institution admits that she feels as if her religion is often considered the source of the problem. In fact, he and other Muslims are not considered to exist. “We were born and raised here for generations, but they (the government) don't talk about Muslims as if we are not part of Sweden. [Even though] we contribute [to the country]. We are lawyers, doctors, journalists, nurses, normal people who are part of Sweden," said ... READ MORE

Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu urged his government to immediately annex the West Bank to Palestine. According to him, the Green Line separating Israel from the occupied Palestinian territories is fictitious. “I don't really think there is a Green Line. It's a fictitious line. This is our homeland. This is where the Jews appear. The attitude of the state of Israel that there are two states here is a mistake. We have to impose sovereignty over Judea and Samaria (the biblical term for the West Bank)," Eliyahu told Army Radio, as reported by CNN Indonesia. With that in mind, Eliyahu assessed that Israel must immediately take steps as soon as possible, so that the colonial country can gain recognition... READ MORE

The Swedish police still allowed the burning of the Koran to take place on Monday (31/7/2023), despite being criticized by various parties for prohibiting such activities. A number of protesters will again stage an action to burn the Koran on Monday afternoon Stockholm time. This time, they held the action outside the Swedish parliament building in the capital. The demonstrators said they would continue to burn the Koran until the government banned the Muslim holy book in Sweden. "I will burn it (the Koran) many times, until you ban it," the organizer of the demonstration, Salwan Najem, told local newspaper Expressen, as reported by CNN Indonesia. Najem has staged a similar action with an immigrant from Iraq, Salwan ... READ MORE