Month: January 2015

Controversy Swirls Around Oscar-Nominated Film – The Takeaway. Today, a highly acclaimed new film hits theaters across the U.S. It's called "Timbuktu," and it's a French-Mauritanian drama directed by Abderrahmane Sissako.   … Hussein Rashid is professor of religion at Hofstra University. He joins us to share his thoughts on…Continue readingControversy Swirls Around Oscar-Nominated Film – The Takeaway

Muslims’ mixed response to new Mohammed cover – CNN.com. “My initial thought is that the cover is a near perfect response to the tragedy,” said Hussein Rashid, a professor of Islamic thought at Hofstra University in New York.   “They are not backing down from the depiction of Mohammed, exercising their…Continue readingMuslims’ mixed response to new Mohammed cover – CNN.com

Charlie Hebdo: Freedom of Speech, or An Excuse to Bully? – The Takeaway. Europe remains on edge in the wake of the deadly terrorist attack at the satirical publication Charlie Hebdo.   The attack has highlighted deep divisions between French nationals and Muslim immigrants—a community that Hussein Rashid, a professor of…Continue readingCharlie Hebdo: Freedom of Speech, or An Excuse to Bully? – The Takeaway

Why the Charlie Hebdo attack is not about images or free speech (COMMENTARY) – Religion News Service. Regarding images: Muhammad is a powerful symbol for Muslims. The Quran calls him a “beautiful role model,” and he is considered to be the most perfect Muslim. It is generally accepted by Muslims…Continue readingWhy the Charlie Hebdo attack is not about images or free speech (COMMENTARY) – Religion News Service

Why Islam forbids images of Mohammed – CNN.com. In a bitter irony, the sometimes violent attacks against portrayals of the prophet are kind of reverse idol-worship, revering — and killing for — the absence of an image, said Hussein Rashid, a professor of Islamic studies at Hofstra University in New…Continue readingWhy Islam forbids images of Mohammed – CNN.com