Inside America’s First Muslim Frat House. In February this year, America’s first Muslim fraternity was established at the University of Texas; Ali Mahmoud is the President of Alpha Lambda Mu (or Alif Laam Meem) and its founder. In an interview with Mahmoud, Jo Barrow explores the origins and ideals of the fraternity, asking him if it could be possible that Alpha Lambda Mu was a step towards the further integration of Muslims into America. “Absolutely not,” says Ali. “We cannot integrate or assimilate into a society that we’re already a part of.” [The Independent]
Judge Rules in Favor of Abercrombie & Fitch Worker Fired for Wearing Hijab. A federal judge has ruled that Abercrombie & Fitch and its Hollister store in San Mateo, California, violated the religious rights of Hani Khan, a Muslim employee fired for refusing to remove her headscarf. Khan was fired in 2010 after four months of working there with a hijab, mostly in the stockroom. The EEOC sued A&F on her behalf in 2011. [San Francisco Chronicle]
Scenes From Ganesh Chaturthi 2013. Yesterday marked the start of the Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Ganesh. A slide show from The Huffington Post shares scenes from the preparations for and first day of Ganesh Chaturthi. The festival is also called Vinayak Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chavithi. This year people trying to celebrate in an environmentally friendly way have a new option — the Vakratunda app which generates a virtual 3D idol and offers “symbolic immersion.” [HuffPo, Google Play]
Bill Murray Will ‘Rock the Kasbah.’ Director Barry Levinson (Wag the Dog) is teaming up with actor Bill Murray (Groundhog Day) for Rock the Kasbah, a new film set in Afghanistan, still in development. Murray will play the manager of a musician on a USO tour in Afghanistan who meets a girl with musical aspirations and talent. He brings her to Kabul to compete on a TV show similar to American Idol that was the subject of a 2009 documentary, Afghan Star. [The Moviefone Blog]
Pavani Yalamanchili is a co-founder and editor of The Aerogram. Follow her on Twitter at @_pavani or email her at editors@theaerogram.com. Find The Aerogram on Twitter @theaerogram.
