American religious groups have a history of resettling refugees – including Afghans
https://theconversation.com/american-rel...ans-166628
INTRO: Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, on Aug. 15, 2021, there has been a frenetic evacuation of foreigners and Afghan nationals. Thousands of these Afghans assisted the United States government, which now puts them in danger.
The United States provides a special immigrant visa to resettle such individuals. But applicants are facing long backlogs, and immigrant advocates have appealed to the Biden administration to increase the processing speed.
Many of these advocates are religious organizations. Since the April 2021 announcement of U.S. troop withdrawals, faith-based organizations like Lutheran Immigrant and Refugee Services, World Relief, National Association of Evangelicals and the Jewish nonprofit HIAS, have implored the Biden administration to evacuate Afghans. Faith-based voluntary agencies are preparing to receive as many Afghan refugees as possible.
This is part of a long history of religious involvement in refugee policy, in which most religious leaders support receiving refugees. However, as a refugee studies scholar, I have observed signs that such widespread support may be waning, particularly among white conservative Christians... (MORE)
Dad and converted Muslim daughter who fell out joke about relationship on TikTok
https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/uk-wor...d-21405585
EXCERPT: A 'stereotypically English' beer-swilling dad who fell out with his teenage daughter when she converted to Islam now pokes fun at their unusual relationship on TikTok - to show 'people can change their views at any age'.
Leena Brookes, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, became a Muslim when she was just 13 despite having gone to a Church of England primary school and clashed with her parents as a result.
Dad Stuart Brookes was adamantly against his daughter's decision and didn't speak to her for several years, fearing she had been brainwashed into the decision after reading about ISIS and grooming gangs in the news.
However, the 52-year-old demolition worker soon learned that changing her religion hadn't changed Leena and after getting to know her husband-to-be Jamal Eldeen Saeed's family too, he accepted her religion... (MORE - details)
What is Sharia law? What does it mean for women in Afghanistan?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-27307249
EXCERPTS: The Taliban say they will rule Afghanistan according to Sharia, or Islamic law. The militant Islamist group have taken control after the departure of US and allied forces from the country.
What have the Taliban said? In the first press briefing after taking power, a Taliban spokesman said issues such as the media and women's rights would be respected "within the framework of Islamic law", but the group has not yet provided any details of what that will mean in practice.
The Taliban have been known for their strict interpretation of Sharia, including punishments such as public executions of convicted murderers and adulterers.
Sharia is Islam's legal system. [...] Sharia can inform every aspect of daily life for a Muslim. ... Like any legal system, Sharia is complex and its practice is entirely reliant on the quality and training of experts. ... There are five different schools of Islamic law. ... The five schools differ in how literally they interpret the texts from which Sharia law is derived.
[...] Sharia law divides offences into two general categories: "hadd" offences, which are serious crimes with set penalties, and "tazir" crimes, where the punishment is left to the discretion of the judge. Hadd offences include theft, which under the strictest interpretations of Sharia, can be punishable by amputating the offender's hand.
[...] Some countries where Islamic law is applied adopt or enforce such punishments for hadd offences, and surveys have suggested attitudes of Muslims to harsh penalties for such offences vary widely... (MORE - missing details)
https://theconversation.com/american-rel...ans-166628
INTRO: Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, on Aug. 15, 2021, there has been a frenetic evacuation of foreigners and Afghan nationals. Thousands of these Afghans assisted the United States government, which now puts them in danger.
The United States provides a special immigrant visa to resettle such individuals. But applicants are facing long backlogs, and immigrant advocates have appealed to the Biden administration to increase the processing speed.
Many of these advocates are religious organizations. Since the April 2021 announcement of U.S. troop withdrawals, faith-based organizations like Lutheran Immigrant and Refugee Services, World Relief, National Association of Evangelicals and the Jewish nonprofit HIAS, have implored the Biden administration to evacuate Afghans. Faith-based voluntary agencies are preparing to receive as many Afghan refugees as possible.
This is part of a long history of religious involvement in refugee policy, in which most religious leaders support receiving refugees. However, as a refugee studies scholar, I have observed signs that such widespread support may be waning, particularly among white conservative Christians... (MORE)
Dad and converted Muslim daughter who fell out joke about relationship on TikTok
https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/uk-wor...d-21405585
EXCERPT: A 'stereotypically English' beer-swilling dad who fell out with his teenage daughter when she converted to Islam now pokes fun at their unusual relationship on TikTok - to show 'people can change their views at any age'.
Leena Brookes, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, became a Muslim when she was just 13 despite having gone to a Church of England primary school and clashed with her parents as a result.
Dad Stuart Brookes was adamantly against his daughter's decision and didn't speak to her for several years, fearing she had been brainwashed into the decision after reading about ISIS and grooming gangs in the news.
However, the 52-year-old demolition worker soon learned that changing her religion hadn't changed Leena and after getting to know her husband-to-be Jamal Eldeen Saeed's family too, he accepted her religion... (MORE - details)
What is Sharia law? What does it mean for women in Afghanistan?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-27307249
EXCERPTS: The Taliban say they will rule Afghanistan according to Sharia, or Islamic law. The militant Islamist group have taken control after the departure of US and allied forces from the country.
What have the Taliban said? In the first press briefing after taking power, a Taliban spokesman said issues such as the media and women's rights would be respected "within the framework of Islamic law", but the group has not yet provided any details of what that will mean in practice.
The Taliban have been known for their strict interpretation of Sharia, including punishments such as public executions of convicted murderers and adulterers.
Sharia is Islam's legal system. [...] Sharia can inform every aspect of daily life for a Muslim. ... Like any legal system, Sharia is complex and its practice is entirely reliant on the quality and training of experts. ... There are five different schools of Islamic law. ... The five schools differ in how literally they interpret the texts from which Sharia law is derived.
[...] Sharia law divides offences into two general categories: "hadd" offences, which are serious crimes with set penalties, and "tazir" crimes, where the punishment is left to the discretion of the judge. Hadd offences include theft, which under the strictest interpretations of Sharia, can be punishable by amputating the offender's hand.
[...] Some countries where Islamic law is applied adopt or enforce such punishments for hadd offences, and surveys have suggested attitudes of Muslims to harsh penalties for such offences vary widely... (MORE - missing details)