Organized by the Multicultural Ethnic-Link Teen Centre and the city’s halal certification board, the festival brought together 12 halal-certified food businesses, offering a wide range of cuisines.

Sohel Ahmed, a seasoned veteran in Hong Kong’s food industry, is bringing halal Italian cuisine to the city to offer a unique dining experience for everyone, regardless of their background. With over 30 years in the industry, Ahmed has adapted traditional Italian recipes to meet halal standards by replacing ingredients like wine with grape juice to maintain authenticity.

The event, which showcased his halal dishes, received praise for its freshness and organization. Attendees, including both locals and visitors, appreciated the authentic flavors and learned more about halal food culture, especially as it was prepared by Muslim chefs.

The Shangri-La hotel, which holds the highest level of halal-friendliness certification in Hong Kong, also participated. Director of operations Mark Bannon explained how their rice dumplings—prepared without pork in a halal kitchen—offered a Muslim-friendly twist on a Chinese classic.

The hotel received a five-star CrescentRating in halal-friendliness, which Bannon said has positively impacted their appeal to Muslim travelers.

In his 2024 Policy Address, Chief Executive John Lee pledged to boost Muslim-friendly travel.

As of March 2025, the number of halal-certified restaurants in Hong Kong has doubled, rising from about 100 to 200. More such festivals and initiatives are planned to further support cultural understanding and tourism.

Source: AboutIslam.net

As Muslims around the world come together to mark the holy month of Ramadan, many do so in fear – fear of discrimination, exclusion, and even violence.

We are witnessing a disturbing rise in anti-Muslim bigotry:

From racial profiling and discriminatory policies that violate human rights and dignity, to outright violence against individuals and places of worship.

This is part of a wider scourge of intolerance, extremist ideologies, and attacks against religious groups and vulnerable populations.

When one group is attacked, the rights and freedoms of all are at risk.

As a global community, we must reject and eradicate bigotry.

Governments must foster social cohesion and protect religious freedom.

Online platforms must curb hate speech and harassment.

And we must all speak out against bigotry, xenophobia, and discrimination.

On this International Day to Combat Islamophobia, let us work together to uphold equality, human rights and dignity, and build inclusive societies where everyone, regardless of their faith, can live in peace and harmony.

Source: UNIS

Netherlands’ Muslim athlete Sifan Hassan earned global acclaim after receiving her gold medal at the final 2024 Paris Olympic Games ceremony on Sunday, August 11, while wearing a hijab, in a defiant message again France’s controversial hijab ban.

Sifan delivered an incredible burst in the final 250 meters of the women’s marathon, clinching gold with an Olympic record time of 2:22:55.

The Dutch runner had already picked up two bronze medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m races at this Olympics.

The 31-year-old became the first athlete to medal in all three of the long-distance events at the same Olympic Games since Czech Emil Zatopek in 1952.

In previous Olympics, the men’s marathon has taken place on the final day with the medalists being presented on the podium at the closing ceremony. Paris was the first Olympics to boast gender parity, and the women’s race was run on the final day meaning the women were presented with their medals at the closing ceremony instead.

While receiving her gold medal in front of fellow athletes and a packed crowd at the Stade de France, Hassan wore a maroon-colored hijab.

The image of her stood on top of the podium struck a chord with fans after the host country controversially banned its own athletes from wearing head coverings at the Olympics.

Social Media Reactions

Viewers took to X to praise Hassan with one user saying: “Sifan Hassan wearing her hijab to her gold medal crowning ceremony for the women’s marathon, after France banned females from wearing hijabs at the 2024 games. She is so powerful. What a woman!”

Another said: “Congrats to Hassan! Love seeing the image of her wearing hijab in the host country that banned its own athletes from wearing it.”

A third user claimed it was an ‘unforgettable moment for her and the entire world’.

Similarly, Instagram users praised her, with one commenting: “The last medalist of Paris 2024 is a woman who chooses to wear hijab. The irony of that being in a host country that bans hijab in sport is incredible.”

A person wrote: “How ironic! A slap in the face of xenophobic France, which prevented its own athletes from participating because of their hijabs. And there stands Sifan proudly receiving her gold medal while wearing her hijab. FANTASTIC!”

“SUCH A STATEMENT WEARING HIJAB THANK YOU SISTER,” a netizen added.

Last September, French Minister of Sports Amelia Oudea-Castera announced athletes representing France would not be allowed to wear the hijab.

Last September, French Minister of Sports Amelie Oudea-Castera announced that athletes representing France at the Paris Games would not be allowed to wear the hijab in line with the country’s secularism principle and rules against displaying religious symbols at sporting events.

The rule was swiftly met with a strong wave of backlash, as The Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation argued: “This ban contradicts the principles of equality, inclusivity, and respect for cultural diversity that the Olympics stand for.”

Amnesty International labeled the Hijab ban as “discriminatory” and “hypocritical,” a week before the Games commenced, and wrote: “French authorities made it emphatically and unashamedly clear… that their proclaimed efforts at improving gender equality and inclusivity in sports do not apply to one group of women and girls – those Muslim women and girls who wear religious head coverings.”

The human rights organization reportedly highlighted how banning the hijab was particularly jarring considering the 2024 Olympics was labeled as the first gender-equal Olympics – yet Muslim women were being discriminated against and singled out.

Source: MSN

Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, the Illinois Muslim Chamber of Commerce (ILMCC) hosted its second annual Naperville Halal Fest to celebrate the cultural diversity of the area, on Saturday, August 3, at Frontier Park in Naperville, Chicago. The ILMCC coordinated it with assistance from other groups. Tickets were required to enter the festival. From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., guests enjoyed a wide variety of Muslim and Islamic traditions, food, music, and more. An estimated fifteen thousand individuals attended this festival.

Tariq Karim, the Pakistani consul general in Chicago, attended the festival with his diplomatic delegation as well. In addition to them, the consul generals of Turkmenistan and Indonesia took part. Numerous members of Congress, state senators, state representatives, and municipal elected officials were among the elected officials present at the occasion. Everyone was enthralled with the cultural performance of the evening. Additionally, Scott Wehrli, the mayor of Naperville County, made an appearance with his cabinet.

2nd Annual Naperville Halal Fest – August 2024.

The goal of the Halal Food Festival, according to the event’s organizers, is to showcase the rich cultural legacy and varied culinary customs associated with Halal cuisine.

Chicago local exhibitors participated in this market from a variety of nations, including Pakistan, Turkey, Jordan, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Mexico, France, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria. They set up delicious food stalls.

A great deal of people enjoyed their favorite foods, and the stall owners gained everyone’s affection by serving delectable meals at affordable prices. At the food festival, 200 different sorts of meals were created by shopkeepers from various countries. A schedule of good-natured events was set up for all the female festival visitors.

John, one of the guests, stated this was his first time attending a Muslim event. It is impossible to emphasize how good the halal meal was. Along from food, the focal point of the festival shifted to vendors offering apparel, trinkets, paper kites, and other goods. At these stalls, women went shopping.

There were bounce houses, pony and camel rides, and other kid-friendly activities available. All throughout the day, the kids played sports and had a great time. A wide range of additional events were also offered by the festival, such as face painting, henna, circus performances, a kid-friendly inflatable area, and a cultural mart.

Pakistani entrepreneurs in North America are celebrating culture and community in the top halal event of 2024, according to a speech made by Pakistan’s consul general Tariq Karim, who also highlighted the country’s halal food sectors.

The mayor of Naperville, Scott Wehrli, stated his admiration for the event, meeting a sizable Muslim community, and enjoying halal cuisine. He became very delighted to see the enormous crowd and that the festival is better than last year. At the 2024 Halal Festival, renowned entrepreneur Anisa Mathana was awarded the highest honor.

The distinguished position of community leader was bestowed upon Ahmed Abdul Qadeer. Chicago Muslim Police Officer Syed Qadri received the Excellence in Service Award at the Halal Festival 2024, where he also earned the Leadership Award. He has eighteen years of police service under his belt.

According to Shafiq Abubakar, President of the Muslim Chamber of Commerce, these events are crucial to maintaining the unity of the Muslim community. The non-profit Illinois Muslim Chamber of Commerce works to advance the economic growth of the Muslim community.

Source: Patch.com

The float depicts a temple to the Hindu god Lord Ram, which was consecrated earlier this year on a site in Ayodhya, India, believed to be his birthplace. But the temple site has long been bitterly contested between Hindus and Muslims, and in the early 1990s a mosque that stood there was razed by a Hindu fundamentalist mob.

Some U.S.-based organizations have written a letter to New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, calling the float anti-Muslim and saying it glorified the mosque’s takedown.

Among groups who signed the letter were the Council on American Islamic Relations, the Indian American Muslim Council and Hindus for Human Rights.

The letter says the temple is considered a symbol glorifying the destruction of mosques and violence against Muslims in the South Asian nation.

Hindus make up about 80% of India’s population, but the country is also home to about 200 million Muslims who have frequently come under attack by Hindu nationalists.

“This float presence represents these groups’ desire to conflate Hindu nationalist ideology with Indian identity, but India is a secular country,” the letter said. “This is not merely a cultural display, but a vulgar celebration of anti-Muslim heat, bigotry, and religious supremacy.”

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, which is organizing the float, says it represents a Hindu place of worship and aims to glorify a deity seen as an important part of Indian and Hindu identity. The Hindu American Foundation said it was an exercise of free speech.

The Federation of Indian Associations, which runs Sunday’s event, said the parade represents India’s cultural diversity and will feature floats from a range of communities.

Spokespersons for Hochul didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment on Thursday, August 15. But when asked about the controversy on Tuesday, August 13, at City Hall, Adams said there’s “no room for hate” in New York, which his office said is home to the nation’s largest Indian American population, with more than 247,000 residents.

“I want to send the right symbolic gesture that the city’s open to everyone and there’s no room for hate,” the Democrat said. “If there is a float or a person in the parade that’s promoting hate, they should not.”

In a follow-up email late Thursday, Adams’ office said the mayor has no plans to attend Sunday’s parade, which he has attended in years past.

It also noted that the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment right to free speech prevents the city from denying a permit or requiring that a float or parade’s message be changed simply because it does not agree with the content.

“From day one, the mayor has been clear that celebrations in our city should be welcoming and inclusive,” the office wrote. “The mayor has always centered communities first, emphasizing that when we come together as one, we practice respect and grace, set politics aside, and embrace the rich melting pot that is New York City.”

Hindus say the site in Ayodhya was holy to them long before Muslim Mughals razed a temple there to build the 1528 Babri mosque, which was destroyed in 1992. The mosque’s destruction was followed by nationwide riots that killed some 2,000 people, mainly Muslims. In 2019, the Indian Supreme Court handed over the land to Hindus.

Human rights experts say India has seen a rise in attacks, including violence and discrimination, on minorities in recent years under Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusations that Modi denies.

The annual New York City parade takes place three days after India’s Independence Day.

Source: Reuters

The Muslim market is emerging as a blue ocean with the potential to replace China. Various market analysis reports, such as the ‘Global Muslim Travel Index 2024’, estimate the market size to be around $276.7 billion this year. It is expected to grow to $417.6 billion by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6% from this year until 2034.

‘Halal’ means ‘permissible’ according to Islamic law and encompasses all aspects of Muslim life, including not only food but also cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and almost all products used in daily life. Recently, the perception that Halal products are safe and reliable has spread among non-Muslim consumers, significantly increasing demand.

The global Halal market has been growing at an annual average rate of 6.2% since 2019. This growth is significantly impacting the global economy, coupled with the rapid increase in the Muslim population. In particular, various products and services are being developed to meet the needs of Muslim consumers, further enhancing the potential of the Halal market.

The reasons why the Halal market is gaining attention include the increase in the Muslim population, the rise in purchasing power due to economic growth based on abundant resources, and the expansion of the consumer market based on a cultural identity that values Islamic law in any situation. Particularly, the cultural impact of multiple births, seen as a virtue, has led to an increase in young consumers driving market changes in travel and wellness.

The development of information and communication technology, the expansion of tourism information, and the enhancement of Muslim-friendly facilities and services also contribute to this trend. This phenomenon is not only about meeting religious needs but also relates to the global demand for healthy and safe products. Therefore, companies are enhancing their competitiveness in the global market through Halal certification, further promoting the growth of the Halal market.

The Surge of Muslim Tourists and Korea’s Tourism Industry Response

By 2024, the number of Muslim tourists worldwide is expected to reach approximately 160 million, with their expenditure amounting to about $225 billion.

The remarkable growth and changes in the global Muslim tourism market suggest the increasing importance of Muslim tourists in the tourism industry. The trend of increasing Muslim tourists visiting Korea is also evident.

In 2019, the number of Muslim tourists visiting Korea exceeded 1 million, and by 2023, it had recovered to levels similar to before the pandemic.

According to the Korea Tourism Organization, the number of Muslim tourists who visited Korea last year totaled 985,858, a 33% increase from the previous year. The proportion of Muslim tourists among all tourists visiting Korea is increasing every year, but there are still many complaints about the lack of prayer rooms and restaurants, indicating that there is a long way to go for Muslim tourists to travel comfortably in Korea.

This increase indicates the rapid growth and recovery of the Muslim tourism market and is closely related to the continuous expansion of Muslim-friendly infrastructure in Korea.

Korea is continuously expanding infrastructure such as Halal restaurants and prayer rooms for Muslim tourists, creating Halal food streets in areas like Itaewon, Seoul, providing a comfortable environment for Muslim tourists. However, Muslim tourists, who have significant cultural and religious differences, face many restrictions compared to tourists from other cultural backgrounds. Muslims are highly sensitive to ‘Halal’, which means permissible to eat and use according to Islamic law. While efforts are being made to provide better travel experiences to Muslim tourists through various cultural contents, conflicts arise due to a lack of understanding of their religion and culture.

There is still a significant lack of Muslim-friendly facilities and information on Halal certification in Korea.

Reducing the constraints Muslim tourists face in Korea and providing them with a more comfortable and satisfactory travel experience is a crucial task for the Korean tourism industry.

Efforts are needed to utilize new technologies like AI to provide easier access to various tourist attractions and cultural content for Muslim tourists. Also, providing a better travel experience for Muslim tourists and enhancing global tourism market competitiveness is necessary. It is necessary to improve various services to meet the needs of Muslim tourists from a more meticulous perspective.

If Korea’s tourism industry can meet the needs of Muslim tourists, it can become a new popular spot for Muslim tourists.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

Iftar, the evening meal signifying the conclusion of daily fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, has been included in UNESCO’s catalog of cultural treasures.

The application to recognize this sociocultural tradition was jointly submitted by Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan to UNESCO.

“Iftar (also known as Eftari or Iftor) is a significant observance for Muslims at sunset during the month of Ramadan, following the fulfillment of all religious and ceremonial practices,” stated UNESCO.

The meal, which follows the sunset call to Maghreb prayer during Ramadan, is associated with gatherings “strengthening family and community ties and promoting charity, solidarity and social exchange,” it said.

This age-old communal tradition gained recognition from the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, currently convened in Botswana.

The UN body said that “the iftar practice is typically transmitted within families and children and youth are often entrusted with preparing components of traditional meals.”

Ramadan is the 9^th month of the Hijri Islamic calendar. It commemorates the first revelation of the Qur’an to Prophet Muhammad.

As the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is a month of giving as well as fasting.

Source: The Daily Star

Michaela Community School, frequently referred to as “Britain’s strictest”, is facing a High Court challenge from a pupil over a policy banning prayer rituals.

The free school in Wembley, north London, is subject to a judicial review over the policy, brought by an affected Muslim pupil who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The court heard that about 30 pupils started praying in the playground over a six-day period in March and used blazers to kneel on after they were “prohibited” from using prayer mats.

The school, where around half of its 700 pupils are Muslim, does not have a specific prayer room.

The ban decision was made by headteacher Katharine Birbalsingh, the former government social mobility commissioner, on March 27 last year and was later “remade” by the school’s governing body in May.

In the legal action against the free school’s governing body, the Michaela Community Schools Trust, the student claimed the decision breached her right to freedom of religion.

The pupil told the court the rule had “fundamentally changed” how she feels “about being a Muslim in this country”.

She described the ban as “like somebody saying they don’t feel like I properly belong here”, the hearing was told.

Representing the student, Sarah Hannett KC told the court about half of the schools roughly 700 pupils were Muslim and the policy had the “practical effect of only preventing Muslims from praying, because their prayer by nature has a ritualized nature rather than being internal”.

Jason Coppel KC, representing the school trust, is due to set out the school’s full defence to the legal challenge later on Wednesday.

A ruling is expected at a later date.

The school, opposite Wembley Park station, has been referred to as one of Britain’s strictest with Ms Birbalsingh’s controversial comments and teaching methods making headlines in the past.

Source: BBC

The first mosque built by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is Quba Mosque in present-day Al-Madinah Al-Munawwara, though the Mosque of the Companions in the Eritrean city of Massawa may have been constructed at around the same time.

Below are seven of the most exquisite mosques, as selected by Mvslim:

1- Saint Petersburg Mosque in Russia

The portals of this Russian mosque as well as the two minarets are covered with gorgeous blue mosaic ceramics and mesmerizing geometric patterns.

2-Nasir al Mulk Mosque in Iran

This ‘Kaleidoscopic’ mosque in Iran may seem traditional from the outside, but the inside creates a stunning multicolored visual effect when the sunlight hits the intricate stained-glass windows.

3- Grand Mosque of Kuwait

With its pleasant and relaxing beige exterior, this mosque doesn’t look nearly as impressive from the outside as it does from the inside, with its massive golden flower petals ceiling.

4- Sultan Ahmet Mosque in Turkey

Worldwide-known as ‘the Blue Mosque’, this amazing building has a decorated interior with 20,000 blue hand-painted tiles.

5- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in UAE

This new mosque is the 7th largest mosque in the world. The uniquely designed lighting system reflects the phases of the moon. The color of the mosque gradually shifts from white to a deeper blue following the evolution of the lunar cycle.

6- Jalil Khayat Mosque in Iraq

It’s a new mosque that was completed in 2007. The interior walls and ceilings are decorated with colorful Islamic patterns ‘Zakhrafa’, which is a kind of Islamic art painting.

7- Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque in Sri Lanka

The beautiful Jami Ul-Alfar mosque, with Saracenic architecture, is influenced by Indian and Islamic styles. The mosque counts six floors and is able to accommodate over 10,000 worshipers.

Source: AboutIslam.net