Ragad Ahmad

While many Philadelphians are planning to celebrate the local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) at its annual fundraising banquet tomorrow, this year marks a significant turning point in the banquet's history.

by Lauren Abunassar

Jude Husein finds it difficult to stay still. Then again, for most of her life she’s been moving quickly.

by Lauren Abunassar

With Donald Trump just days away from retaking office—and potentially implementing substantial foreign policy changes, Al-Bustan News wanted to know what questions we should be asking and whether or not we can consider this era of chaos, devastation, and transformation symptomatic of a watershed moment in our understanding of the MENA region or simply a continuation of patterns of turmoil.

by Lauren Abunassar

In Philadelphia, educators at both the primary school and collegiate levels have been speaking out against Palestine-related censorship, which they say pervades the city’s academic systems. A subset of  this diverse and intersectional community are anti-Zionist Jewish educators who have stepped forward to denounce the way that pro-Israel advocacy groups are weaponizing Judaism in an effort to suppress Palestinian advocacy.

“It’s so difficult to watch a place and a people to whom you are so connected suffer so much violence at the hands of international actors who have no regard for the wellbeing or livelihoods of people in the Middle East,” said 23-year-old Lebanese American and Penn alum Laila Shadid in an interview with Al-Bustan News.

When Medford, New Jersey-based documentary filmmaker Zainab Sultan was considering what new film projects to pursue, Delaware State Representative Madinah Wilson-Anton emerged as an immediate source of fascination. The first female Muslim legislator in Delaware, Wilson-Anton is young, candid, a steadfast community advocate, and a stand-up comedian.