News Briefs for week of May 2, 2010

This week, authorities arrest a man in connection with a bomb scare in Times Square, Belgian politicians ban face veils, a group of Afghan school girls is allegedly poisoned and a divorced Saudi woman studying abroad loses custody of her child.
The New York Times reports that a 30-year-old Pakistani man, Faisal Shahzad, has been arrested in connection with an attempted bombing in New York’s Time Square. Shahzad recently bought the 1993 Nissan Pathfinder that was found loaded with gasoline, propane, fireworks and fertilizer in the heart of Times Square. Authorities said that they reprimanded Shahzad shortly before he attempted to board a plane to Dubai.

The Christian Science Monitor reports that Belgium officials have passed a ban on the face veil with resounding support. Legislators in Belgium’s lower house voted almost unanimously in favor of the bill.

MSNBC reports that over 80 Afghan school girls were poisoned, many fearing that fighters opposed to girls’ education are behind the attack. Some of the victims said that they had smelled flowers shortly before falling ill. There were three separate incidents reported in Northern Afghanistan.

The Arab News reported that a divorced Saudi Arabian woman studying abroad lost custody of her son despite initially being granted custody in keeping with Islamic Law. The court’s decision was made on account of the woman’s choice to leave the Kingdom for her studies.

Rabea Chaudhry is an Associate Editor with Altmuslimah

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