“We continue to work so that the genocide which took place in the middle of Europe gets carried to future generations. We expect Turkish authorities to help us in this regard,” Latic emphasized.

A prison inmate of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s first president Aliya Izetbegovic and the writer of the national anthem of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cemalettin Latic on Friday visited Anadolu Agency (AA) Chairman of the Board and Director General Kemal Ozturk in Ankara.

A comic hopes to bring social consciousness as well as humor to students when the Muslim Student Association hosts comedian Preacher Moss from 8 to 10 tonight in 121 Sparks Building.

Moss, whose real name is Bryant Reginald Moss, said he hopes his comedy brings a breath of fresh air to the students.

“My comedy has a component of looking at the human condition and finding the funny and meaning out of it,” he said.

Besides being a comedian, Moss has worked as a television writer on shows such as “Saturday Night Live.” He also co-founded his own company Allah Made Me Funny, which sponsors tours for Muslim comics all over the world.

President of the Muslim Student Association Zak Khayat (junior-materials science and engineering) said Moss offers a unique perspective as both a black man and a Muslim convert in a field where few of the latter exist.

Moss said his love of comedy started at age 7 in Washington, D.C., and continued through his college years at Marquette University where he often opened for other comedians.

MSA secretary Ummekulsoom Ghadai (junior-English and psychology) said Moss’s comedy relates to everyday issues most people face and makes people question reality.

Moss said he aims to be an educator similar to an engaging teacher people remember in school.

“I love speaking to college-aged students because it gives me an opportunity to educate and entertain the next generation,” he said.

Hamsa Fayed (freshman-political science) said the comedy show also gives students a chance to be more informed about Islam and the Muslim culture.

“I hope people realize that not all Muslim are so serious,” Khayat said.

Moss also hopes that people come out of the show questioning their surroundings and what’s around them.

“It’s a real show, I’m a part of a dying breed of socially engaged comedians,” Moss said.

Students should take advantage of Moss’ performance as a chance to meet someone unique, Khayat said.

The show is free to the general public, and refreshments will be available during the performance.

The first-ever Palestinian film to be nominated for best Documentary Feature by A.M.P.A.S®, the critically-acclaimed 5 BROKEN CAMERAS is a deeply personal, first-hand account of life and non-violent resistance in Bil’in, a West Bank village surrounded by Israeli settlements.

Shot by Palestinian farmer Emad Burnat, who bought his first camera in 2005 to record the birth of his youngest son, Gibreel, the film was co-directed by Burnat and Guy Davidi, an Israeli filmmaker.

Sukina Owen-Douglas and Tanya Muneera Williams, collectively known as Hip-Hop duo Poetic Pilgrimage, are taking on the challenge of fighting for women’s rights. The Jamaican-British Muslim converts are currently on an online fundraising drive for their upcoming documentary, Hip Hop Hijabis, that highlights the past three years of Poetic Pilgrimage’s growth and the barriers they help to break.

DC Comics has created special JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #1 variant covers in the spirit of the iconic “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima” photo. The main JLA characters are posed holding a flag for each of the fifty states and Puerto Rico.

Holy cameos Batman, is that the New York State flag?

The MFAH will be the exclusive American partner for the display of the many treasures from the al-Sabah collection. The Al-Sabah collection is one of the greatest private collection of Islamic art in the world and includes 30,000 pieces, including what is internationally recognized as being the world’s greatest holding of Mughal jewelry.

Paris- The roof of the Louvre’s new Islamic art department undulates like golden fabric gently lifted by the wind—a feat, considering it is made of steel and glass and weighs almost 150 tons. Filling a neoclassical courtyard, the addition that opened last fall tripled the space devoted to Islamic art and more than doubled the number of objects on view to almost 3,000, or about a sixth of the museum’s works from the Islamic world.

Actor Mamu Koya and hip-hop. Incongruous it may appear, but the two gel well to give the young, hip-hop band, “Mappila Lahala”, a thumping debut. Their debut rap number, “Native Bapa” had an online launch three days ago and has recorded over 70,000 views.

Johnson City, TN – December 18, 2012- Mo Sabri is not just a college student, grateful to be finished with finals and looking forward to holiday break: he is an internationally known artist who just released an unexpected music video about Jesus Christ.

To most listeners, Kareem Salama’s music does not sound much different from that of any other American country western singer. His songs, similar to so many other country tunes, are filled with stories of good friends and heartbreak, belted out in a thick Southern drawl over the thumping rhythm of a 12-string guitar. Even his attitude is familiar—when asked what makes his music “country,” Salama’s response is folksy, simple, and to the point: “Probably my accent.”

Mumbai, Dec 12 (IANS): Islamic art has been Mohammed Jamshed’s biggest passion for over two decades. So much so that he weaves in calligraphed holy verses from Quran into his paintings.

Jamshed, in his early 60s, aims to revive the sublime but lost world of Islamic calligraphy through his paintings and pass on his art to the next generation. He has actually made whole shapes including flowers, pots, boats and buildings all by positioning holy Urdu verses and Kalimas in such a way that they make a shape.

Past MPAC Media Award winner and one of the stars of “Allah Made Me Funny,” Preacher Moss,  is taking his solo show “End of Racism” on the road.

The comedy and lecture tour, a dedication to delivering his message about the seriousness of the issue in a hilarious and poignant manner, has been playing to college students and administers all over the country.

Moss, who is a seasoned comedy writer, has written for television shows such as the “George Lopez Show” and has made appearances on “Saturday Night Live” and Comedy Central.

Watch Muslim Comedian on PBS. See more from Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly.

KIM LAWTON, guest anchor: American Muslims have developed a variety of strategies to combat ignorance and prejudice against their community, from grassroots political pressure to high-profile media campaigns. But Azhar Usman has chosen a more unorthodox route — stand-up comedy. The 30-year-old Muslim comedian doesn’t pick easy targets for his jokes. In fact, he often ventures into areas where most comics would fear to tread. How does he pull it off? Judy Valente reports.

Muslim comic is on a humor pilgrimage
December 12, 2004|MICHAEL T. JARVIS

Preacher Moss would be the first to agree that some might view Muslim comedy as an oxymoron. That’s one reason why the L.A.-based writer and comic cooked up the “Allah Made Me Funny” comedy tour, a three-man show featuring Moss and fellow funnymen Azeem and Azhar Usman that’s been breaking them up in places such as North Carolina and the Midwest. A native of Washington, D.C., Moss, who taught emotionally disturbed children before coming to Hollywood in 1997, sees comedy as another chance to teach, and he has applied his sense of the absurd to hot-potato topics such as race in his writing for Damon Wayans, Darrell Hammond, the “George Lopez” show and a previous comedy tour titled “End of Racism.” We asked Moss, 37, who has been a Muslim since 1988, about the spirit of hilarity.

What inspired the “Allah Made Me Funny” tour?

The fact that dialogue was missing. Now people can actually get out and discuss these issues. What are we really fearing? We had a 9/11 report that revealed that no American Muslims were involved with the hijacking. However, who suffers the most with the Patriot Act? For Muslims, we’ve become very isolated.

What is distinctive about a Muslim comedy show?

We keep a clean show, a G-rated show. All three of us have different points of view. Working clubs, we ask that they don’t serve alcohol. Some people say, “That’s terrible.” I’ve gone to clubs that have had dry nights because they were hosting special events for Alcoholics Anonymous. No one raised an eyebrow with AA, but a Muslim, that’s a problem.

Don’t some Muslims consider comedy blasphemous?

Azhar Usman had to do a show in Vancouver for a group of Shiite Muslims. One faction said it wasn’t permitted. They actually had to contact a grand ayatollah and get a ruling. He came back with, “Yes, laughter is permitted.”

What makes you a comedian?

Allah made me funny. That’s my personal credo. He made me a communicator and a person who can be introspective about things going on around me. For lack of a better word, a storyteller. My comedy is representative of a healing process.

Should race be fair game to comics of any color?

If somebody is informed, yes. Nobody wants to hear an idiot up there talk about race. It’s boring. If you’re going to talk about race, get educated about it. Be accountable about what you say. Do your homework. Don’t give us the emotional. Give us the analytical side of it and then make it funny.

Is it still hard to laugh about race in America?

Yes. America is good about talking about race at a time of crisis, when everyone is very emotional. Once the emotion wears down, we finally get to the deal at hand. I try to be very focused and calm when I’m talking or arguing about race. I want people to understand that we’re having a dialogue, a discussion. You’re a human being and I’m a human being.

Who are your comedy role models?

Dick Gregory. I was always inspired by his work for civil rights and by the fact that he endeared himself to comedy for the betterment of mankind. Richard Pryor made it OK for black people to laugh at themselves in the mainstream. George Lopez inspired me to take initiative with my comedy. His audience that I was opening for was mostly Latino, but at no point did he tell me to change my act for a Latino audience. He and Darrell Hammond were the first comedians to tell me, “Tell it like you do and the rest of the world will catch up.”

How do Los Angeles audiences differ from those elsewhere?

I identify more with people in the Midwest. There are core values based around family living. L.A. is very much an industry town based around productivity. In comedy clubs in L.A., one group of people might be enjoying themselves, but another group is thinking, “How can I get that type of humor to pay off my house?”

Is Los Angeles funny?

Yes. Actors make a living pretending to be others. A criminal pretends to be someone else, he doesn’t get any awards. He gets 25 years.