Fiona André
@fiona-ndre.bsky.social
I cover Islam and many other topics for Religion News Service. Have a tip? @fiona_ndre.10. 🇫🇷🇭🇹
religionnews.com/2026/05/15/b...
Black church leaders to march in Selma this weekend over Voting Rights Act ruling
(RNS) — Faith leaders will first gather at Selma’s Tabernacle Baptist Church for a prayer service before marching silently on the Edmund Pettus Bridge toward the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery.
religionnews.com
Oh — a VP of the Muslim Public Affairs Council with this group just confronted Rep. Randy Fine, who posted that he'd choose dogs over Muslims. I couldn’t hear all that was said (more soon), but Fine threatened the MPAC VP with arrest from a nearby cop. The officer did not, in fact, arrest him.
Jack Jenkins@jackjenkins.me · 5mo agoHappening now: Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders just tried to meet w/Speaker Johnson, calling on him to censure fellow Republicans such as Rep. Andy Ogles for recent anti-Muslim rhetoric — such as Ogles tweeting "Muslims don't belong in American society." No meeting — they prayed in his office.
NEW via @fiona-ndre.bsky.social, @fiona-murphy.bsky.social and @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social: Cardinal Tobin celebrates Ash Wednesday Mass for detainees in Newark ICE facility (note: this is NJ, not in IL, where there are disputes about allowing this to happen) —> religionnews.com/2026/02/18/c...
Cardinal Tobin celebrates Ash Wednesday Mass for detainees in Newark ICE facility
NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) — The Newark bishops are the only confirmed U.S. bishops who plan to celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass in an ICE detention facility.
religionnews.com
Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark went inside an ICE detention facility to celebrate Ash Wednesday Masses with detainees this morning. We caught him as he was leaving the facility and asked why he chose to celebrate the holy day with ICE detainees. Read our RNS story for more info:
Full story on this from @fiona-ndre.bsky.social: “…Aliya Latif, the newly appointed executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based Partnerships, said NY clergy ought to mobilize as forcefully as clergy who have protested ICE operations across the country.” religionnews.com/2026/02/06/a...
At Mamdani’s interfaith breakfast, NY clergy condemn Trump’s immigration crackdown
NEW YORK (RNS) — During the event, Mamdani signed an executive order to prevent US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from entering city property without a judicial warrant.
religionnews.com
Jack Jenkins@jackjenkins.me · 6mo agoInteresting religious subtext: Mamdani made this announcement while speaking at NYC's annual Interfaith Breakfast, which is why you hear him referring to the "stranger" — a reference to Christian and Jewish scripture and principles, he says, in other faiths. (More @rns.org coverage of this soon.)
In a last-minute hearing, a U.S. district Judge halted the Department of Homeland Security’s attempt to strip 350,000 Haitians of their temporary protected status. The status was set to expire on Tuesday. Read the full story on RNS:
Via @fiona-ndre.bsky.social and @ulaakuzi.bsky.social: In Minneapolis, clergy mobilize to manage expected ICE raids targeting Somali immigrants —> religionnews.com/2025/12/04/i...
In Minneapolis, clergy mobilize to manage expected ICE raids targeting Somali immigrants
(RNS) — Preparing for ICE agents' presence in the city, an interfaith coalition shared best practices for dealing with law enforcement at houses of worship.
religionnews.com
Two months ago, Marwan Marouf, a Dallas Muslim community leader was arrested by ICE on his way to work. On Friday, an immigration judge ruled to deport him to Jordan. Marouf has spent 30 years in the U.S.
Ever since Imam El Hadji Thioub has been placed in ICE detention, members of his mosque in the Bronx said Friday prayers feel different. “If we (are) missing the big leader you can feel it in the mosque,” said Imam Omar Niass (in yellow) who co-leads the mosque.
Listen to RNS reporters @fiona-ndre.bsky.social and @ulaakuzi.bsky.social on "Complexified" this week, where they unpack how Zohran Mamdani built a multifaith, multiethnic coalition that stretched from mosques to churches to fried chicken shops across Queens. religionnews.com/2025/11/10/b...
Beyond Identity Politics: The Mamdani Method in New York
What happens when a Muslim mayor-elect treats identity as a bridge, not a brand?
religionnews.com
“What happens when a Muslim mayor-elect treats identity as a bridge, not a brand?” is the question we wrestled with on Complexified this week! Listen here:
Beyond Identity Politics: The Mamdani Method in New York
open.spotify.com
Our fresh news roundup features insights from @jackjenkins.me, @fiona-ndre.bsky.social, @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social, @angeladenker.bsky.social, @davidgilbert.bsky.social, @kateshellnutt.bsky.social, @kenschneck.bsky.social, @wsuares.bsky.social, @lrj417.bsky.social, @sarahposner.bsky.social, & more!
Weekly Roundup: Nov. 7
Here’s the weekly roundup from A Public Witness. In addition to a report on Illinois State Police pepperballing a minister that is free for anyone to read, paid subscribers to A Public Witness receive...
publicwitness.wordandway.org
“Federal authorities told demonstrators Friday that there would be ‘no more prayer’ in front of or inside the Broadview ICE facility, in a move that mystified local leaders and raised legal questions.” blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/07/f...
Feds Tell Faith Leaders 'No More Prayer' Outside Broadview Facility
In a possible violation of the First Amendment, federal officials instructed demonstrators to stop holding religious gatherings outside the immigration processing facility in suburban Broadview after ...
blockclubchicago.org
“We will fight for you because we are you, or as we say on Steinway, ‘Ana Minkum wa Ilaykum,’” said Mamdani, referring to the busy Astoria commercial street and citing an Arabic adage meaning “I am from you and return to you.” Read more here: religionnews.com/2025/11/05/a...
At Mamdani victory party, a broad coalition of faith communities cheers Muslim mayor-elect
NEW YORK (RNS) — From prominent Muslim community leaders to members of Jews for Zohran, Hindus for Zohran and Shias for Zohran, the campaign’s election reflected the diverse coalition of religious com...
religionnews.com
“He was so brave to openly declare that he’s a Muslim trying to be the mayor of the city,” said Shamsi Ali, imam at Jamaica Muslim Center in Queens, NY. “It is truly uplifting us.”
Jack Jenkins@jackjenkins.me · 9mo agoTruly brilliant @rns.org team reporting here from @ulaakuzi.bsky.social, @fiona-ndre.bsky.social and @richakarma.bsky.social: Inside Zohran Mamdani's bid to win over religious New Yorkers —> religionnews.com/2025/11/04/i...
Mamdani would be New York's first Muslim mayor. His support transcends religious identity. religionnews.com/2025/11/03/m...
Mamdani would be New York's first Muslim mayor. His support transcends religious identity.
(RNS) — Drawing opposition to Mamdani along religious lines misses an important divide between the Democratic Party establishment and Jewish New Yorkers.
religionnews.com
Truly brilliant @rns.org team reporting here from @ulaakuzi.bsky.social, @fiona-ndre.bsky.social and @richakarma.bsky.social: Inside Zohran Mamdani's bid to win over religious New Yorkers —> religionnews.com/2025/11/04/i...
Inside Zohran Mamdani's bid to win over religious New Yorkers
NEW YORK (RNS) — Over the past year, the candidate has leaned on his Muslim identity to mobilize voters from across traditions, from Friday prayers and Diwali celebrations in Queens, to Baptist church...
religionnews.com
“My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty,” said Mamdani in his victory speech. “Thanks to all of those who sacrificed so much, we are breathing in the air of a city that has been reborn.”
Reporting live from Zohran Mamdani’s election night in Brooklyn 🗽 The 34-year-old democratic socialist just won New York City’s mayoral election, becoming the city’s first Muslim mayor.
AjiFanta Marenah (right), the vice president of New York’s Muslim Democratic club, told me Mamdani’s victory is a “historic” moment for Muslim New Yorkers.
religionnews.com/2025/11/04/i...
Inside Zohran Mamdani's bid to win over religious New Yorkers
NEW YORK (RNS) — Over the past year, the candidate has leaned on his Muslim identity to mobilize voters from across traditions, from Friday prayers and Diwali celebrations in Queens, to Baptist church...
religionnews.com
“Four years after promising $10M for racial reparations, Virginia's Episcopalians have little to show” - reporting by @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social and I religionnews.com/2025/11/03/f...
Virginia Episcopalians promised reparations. Progress has lagged.
(RNS) — 'I felt like we were kind of misled as a task force in terms of level (of) engagement', said one member of a reparations task force, of the diocese's efforts.
religionnews.com
religionnews.com/2025/10/28/i...
In Newark, a Nation of Islam heir speaks against war in Gaza, Trump
NEWARK, N.J. (RNS) — The Muslim-American Ministry for Human Salvation has distanced itself from the Nation of Islam’s controversial Black supremacist discourse but celebrates its roots with Muslim Afr...
religionnews.com
religionnews.com/2025/10/27/t...
'The Lost Mary' breaks from centuries of mythmaking around the Virgin Mary
(RNS) — A new book, the fruit of 20 years of research, aims to unearth Mary’s real identity, which the author said has been lost amid centurieslong attempts to paint her as an ever-virgin, quasi-divin...
religionnews.com
The child sex abuse case against the late Haitian-American bishop Guy Sansaricq has been delayed after attorneys this week filed notice of his death—which occurred in 2021. The action triggers a legal mechanism delaying a hearing scheduled for Thursday. buff.ly/rUcFs6U
Via @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social: Hispanic evangelical Trump adviser says (to me, while onstage at @rns.org's symposium yesterday) he may not endorse candidates in the future. Also voiced criticism of Stephen Miller and wariness of "idolatry" some have of Trump. religionnews.com/2025/10/22/h...
Hispanic evangelical Trump adviser says he may not endorse candidates in the future
NEW YORK CITY (RNS) — The Rev. Tony Suárez said he voted for Trump three times and believes the president is in favor of immigration reform.
religionnews.com
The *same day* the first Muslim woman to be elected to the Georgia House of Representatives launches a new campaign to become Georgia's first Muslim governor, @fiona-ndre.bsky.social has an interview with her. Read more at @rns.org:
Fiona André@fiona-ndre.bsky.social · 10mo agoToday I spoke with @ruwaromman.bsky.social about her strategy to win over Georgians, being a Muslim woman in politics and the Democratic Party’s losses in the 2024 election. Read more here: religionnews.com/2025/09/29/r...
Today I spoke with @ruwaromman.bsky.social about her strategy to win over Georgians, being a Muslim woman in politics and the Democratic Party’s losses in the 2024 election. Read more here: religionnews.com/2025/09/29/r...
Ruwa Romman, Georgia's first Muslim woman legislator, launches bid for governor
(RNS) — A Palestinian American, Romman gained prominence in August 2024 when her scheduled speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago was canceled at the last minute.
religionnews.com
Ruwa Romman@ruwaromman.bsky.social · 10mo agoNow is the time to be brave. Republicans in Georgia have controlled our state for over 20 years leading to underfunded schools, closing hospitals, & low wages stuck at $5.15. I'm running for Governor to change that.
Some context, via @fiona-ndre.bsky.social: religionnews.com/2025/08/19/h...
DHS is using the Bible to promote ICE, claiming ‘righteous’ fight against immigrants
(RNS) — The agency refers to Scripture as it seeks to recruit agents who are pivotal in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
religionnews.com
Jack Jenkins@jackjenkins.me · 10mo agoOh! It appears the DHS promotional video from July that used audio from the film "Fury," in which a character quotes a Bible verse, finally ran afoul of copyright: the clip has been taken down.
Have you or someone you know left your church over what your pastor/ leaders have said following Charlie Kirk’s death? I’d like to hear your story. Feel free to DM me, send me an email (fiona.andre@religionnews.com) or a Signal text (@fiona_ndre.10). Thank you!!