Despite the Islamic New Year remaining approximately 195 days away, we find ourselves utilising the Gregorian calendar for publishing and reporting purposes. It therefore seems appropriate to make a short and sweet piece that reflects on some of the biggest stories in the past year.
Hopefully, you will come across something that piques your interest and is of benefit!
January
Top story
This month marked exactly two decades since the US extrajudicial prison site known as Guantanamo Bay had been established by the Bush administration. [1]
Dozens of detainees, including many who have never been charged with, let alone tried for a single crime, continue to languish in the notorious prison. [1]
Over the years, many appalling accounts have described abuses including psychological torture, sexual abuse, and various forms of physical mistreatment. [1]
3 other big stories
- Tesla condemned for “complicity” in Uyghur genocide
- Syrian colonel sentenced to life following conviction of crimes against humanity
- Queen Elizabeth gifted war criminal Tony Blair with the highest order of knighthood
February
Top story
The second month of 2022 saw the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) demand an independent inquiry into the disastrous Trojan Horse affair that seriously affected the British Muslim community through a large part of the 2010s to the present day. [2]
This demand came hot on the heels of a viral podcast that revealed brutal facts that had been buried for years prior. [2]
The Trojan Horse affair is known for conveniently providing the circumstances for the British government to enforce the toxic Prevent policy as a “statutory duty” in schools in 2015. [2]
3 other big stories
- Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its impact on the indigenous Crimean Tatar Muslims
- International Court of Justice resumed Rohingya genocide case against Myanmar’s regime
- Tragedy of 5-year-old Moroccan boy, Rayan, who fell into a well and died after failed rescue
March
Top story
This month saw the welcome news that Saudi authorities would be resuming international Hajj bookings for 2022. [3]
The development came after two challenging Hajj-free years on account of the global coronavirus pandemic that knocked the world off its feet in the tail end of 2019. [3]
3 other big stories
- Hijab ban upheld in Indian court: BJP continued persecution of Muslims in Karnataka
- Stand4Uyghurs hit the streets of Australia with 50+ Australian Muslim organisations
- Transport for London told people to “lower their gaze” in new anti-harassment campaign
April
Top story
No prizes to those who guessed the top story of April. It was, of course, Ramaḍān! [4]
We had a jam-packed publishing schedule during this month, with lots of spiritually stimulating posts that were geared towards getting the most out of these special thirty days.
And on the news front, the Pakistani leader, Imran Khan, was ousted in a historic vote of no confidence. A number of large protests took place around the country and Khan defiantly told supporters that he would fight to return to government. [5]
3 other big stories
- Downing Street criticised over “cruel” plan to send refugees to Rwanda
- Kuwaiti government called for global du’ā Qunūt for Palestine as violence escalated
- Two shot dead by French police after riots spread following Marine Le Pen receiving 41 per cent of electoral vote
May
Top story
We began this month by celebrating Eid ul-Fitr! [6]
Towards the end of the month, we learnt of the sad news that one of Kuwait’s most prominent scholars, Shaykh Ahmad al-Qattān, had died. He was aged 76, and had been enduring an ongoing illness prior to his death. [7]
3 other big stories
- “Death to Arabs”: Jewish ultra-nationalists stormed al-Aqsa ahead of Zionist march
- Western outrage over Afghan women’s dress despite them starving due to US sanctions
- Massive Chinese data hack: Faces of 5,000 detained Uyghurs revealed in unprecedented leak
June
Top story
This month marked three years since the death of Egypt’s first and last democratically elected leader, Mohamed Morsi. [8]
The late Egyptian president was remembered for his devotion to Islam, and for never renouncing his beliefs. [8]
3 other big stories
- Turkish scholar, Shaykh Mahmud Effendi, passed away at the age of 93
- Historic partnership for Muslims in cricket between ECB & Nujum Sports
- India’s BJP held to account for insulting remarks against Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
July
Top story
A few days prior to Eid ul-Adha, a hugely successful demonstration outside the Chinese embassy in London saw large numbers calling for an end to the Uyghur genocide. [9]
A canvas by the artist, Shams, drew big crowds on the 13th anniversary of the Ürümqi massacre, and even led to the embassy barricading its entrance! [9]
3 other big stories
- Remembering Srebrenica 27 years later
- Founder of AlMaghrib Institute, Shaykh Muhammad Alshareef, passed away aged 47
- Mass protest in London demanded an end to “impending genocide” against Muslims in India
August
Top story
This, of course, was the month in the year when students waited with bated breath to see what they received in their GCSEs and A Levels.
The month also marked one whole year since the US and her allies haphazardly left war-torn Afghanistan.
Leaving behind a reported seven billion dollars’ worth of American equipment – including dozens of helicopters and road vehicles –the country was left to heal following two decades of Western occupation. [10] [11]
3 other big stories
- Outrage across India as Hindutva gang rapists walked free after sentences cut short
- French state condemned for anti-Muslim hysteria – Rishi Sunak should take note
- ‘Israel’ killed 16 children whilst the world looked the other way
September
Top story
In the English city of Leicester, this month witnessed a considerable amount of inter-communal violence between Muslims and Hindutva-aligned mobs. [12]
One local activist, community leader, and aid worker, Majid Freeman, was labelled a hero after saving the life of 32-year-old Hindu man, Ram Keshwara. [12]
3 other big stories
- How should Muslims view the death of Queen Elizabeth II?
- Memories of Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who passed away at the age of 96
- FOSIS urged Muslims to lead disaffiliation campaign against NUS for Islamophobia
October
Top story
In this month, the UK welcomed its third Prime Minister in two months.
Rishi Sunak (or Rashee Sanuk as US President Joe Biden mistakenly said) was installed at Downing Street as the first ever Prime Minister of Asian heritage. This followed an approximately forty days of disaster and chaos under the Liz Truss government. [13]
Also connected to the above political mayhem was Truss’ open admission that she desired the relocation of Britain’s ‘Israel’ embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Fortunately, the self-described “huge Zionist” was ousted within days of expressing the outlandish remarks. [14]
3 other big stories
- Islam21c joined you in marking World Mental Health Day 2022
- Cologne Central Mosque started broadcasting the adhān on October 14
- Scientists recommended honey in favour of antibiotics in tackling superbugs
November
Top story
The results from the 2021 Census were published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in November.
Some of the key figures showed that Muslims made up 33 per cent of the total population increase for England and Wales. The data also showed that there had been a 43 per cent rise in the number of Muslims in England and Wales since 2011. [15]
3 other big stories
- In regards to the Qatar World Cup, why the duplicity?
- Islam21c congratulated India’s first female Muslim neurosurgeon
- Condolences offered upon the passing of Shaykh Muhammad Rafi Usmani
December
Top story
This month saw World Cup fever dominate the headlines – albeit mostly negative stories pushed by a number of outlets including the BBC and ITV.
However, in a memorable turn of events, Morocco made it all the way to the semi-finals and the entire Ummah celebrated their incredible run. [16]
3 other big stories
- Scotland took damaging step in passing gender reform bill
- UN described 2022 as the worst year for Palestine since 2006
- Condolences offered to Shaykh Dr. Haitham al-Haddad on the passing of his mother
A kind request…
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Source: Islam21c
Notes
[1] https://www.islam21c.com/news-views/close-down-guantanamo-20-years-of-gitmo/
[2] https://www.islam21c.com/news-views/mcb-demands-independent-inquiry-into-trojan-horse-scandal/
[3] https://www.islam21c.com/news-views/saudi-authorities-announce-hajj-is-back-open-for-2022/
[4] https://www.islam21c.com/news-views/beginning-of-ramadan-announcement-2/
[5] https://www.islam21c.com/news-views/pakistan-installs-new-prime-minister-amid-fallout-of-imran-khans-ouster/
[6] https://www.islam21c.com/ramadan-1443/eid-al-fitr-1443-2022-announced/
[7] https://www.islam21c.com/news-views/condolences-on-the-passing-of-shaykh-ahmad-al-qattan/
[8] https://www.islam21c.com/news-views/remembering-president-mohamed-morsis-death-three-years-on/
[9] https://www.islam21c.com/campaigns/chinese-embassy-uyghur-art-display/
[10] https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/27/politics/afghan-weapons-left-behind/index.html
[11] https://www.islam21c.com/news-afghanistan/a-year-since-the-end-of-us-occupation-in-afghanistan/
[12] https://www.islam21c.com/news-views/muslim-praised-for-heroism-that-saved-hindu-during-leicester-mayhem/
[13] https://www.islam21c.com/news-views/britain-welcomes-its-first-brown-prime-minister/
[14] https://www.islam21c.com/news-views/self-proclaimed-huge-zionist-liz-truss-expresses-intent-to-move-british-embassy-to-jerusalem/
[15] https://www.islam21c.com/news-views/muslims-make-up-33-of-england-wales-population-increase/
[16] https://www.islam21c.com/news-views/morocco-exits-the-world-cup-but-remains-in-the-hearts-of-muslims/
