Ten stolen Buddha sculptures were returned to Afghanistan after they were discovered stashed inside two broken fruit crates at London’s Heathrow Airport. Customs officers seized a statue and nine Buddha heads in 2002 believing they might have been used to hide drugs but further investigations revealed they were stolen 1,500-year-old treasures. Police said the sculptures…
On the eve of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, two Iran-based universities have desired to establish academic Chairs to conduct research on the life and teachings of the first Sikh Guru. Another proposal from their side was to initiate the Sikh religious study programme in collaboration with the Iran-based universities. University of Religion…
The majority of Saudi youth would be more than willing to get involved in volunteer work, according to a survey. The study found that 84 percent of the 1,126 young people questioned were “highly interested” in donating their time to take part in community programmes.Almost half of those quizzed from throughout the country (of which…
The United Arab Emirates has announced plans to help rebuild two Christian churches destroyed by ISIS terrorists. The UAE has expanded its collaboration with a United Nations initiative called Revive the Spirit of Mosul, an international effort to reconstruct Iraq’s once second-largest city. According to a press release, a new agreement reiterating UAE’s support for…
This may not be common elsewhere, but at the Heydar Mosque in Azerbaijan, both Sunni and Shia Muslims come together every Friday for prayers. This mosque is the largest in Azerbaijan and in the entire Caucasus, was built just 5 years ago in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, but it has already become a symbol of peace,…
Niger’s President Blames ‘Misreading of Islam’ The President of Niger, in Africa, says a misreading of Islam is to blame for his country’s explosive birth rate. MahamadouIssoufouhas been trying to drive down his country’s birth rate of more than seven children per woman. He has advocated family planning and contraception in the 98% Muslim country,…
The UAE Cabinet recently approved a Family Protection Policy to protect families and children against any abuse. During a meeting chaired by Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, the Cabinet also approved protection and intervention mechanisms for all types of domestic violence. “The UAE…
New York: The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU) and the Muslim World League (MWL) recently announced an historic partnership for an innovative Season of Twinning program that will bring together rabbis and imams and their synagogues and mosques. For a decade, the FFEU’s Season of Twinning has brought together thousands of Muslims and Jews in…
UNICEF and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) recently launched an innovative fund that will open new opportunities for Muslim philanthropy to reach the millions of children currently in need of humanitarian support and help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Global Muslim Philanthropy Fund for Children (GMPFC) is the first fund focused on Muslim…
Mosque, Church and Synagogue in One Location A Historic Project Embracing its diversity, the United Arab Emirates recently announced The Abrahamic Family House project. The House, will bring a mosque, a church, and a synagogue together. It is a physical manifestation of the Document on Human Fraternity, which was signed by Pope Francis and Dr…
