Alaa Basatneh
Splinter
Miami, FL, United States
Contact Alaa
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
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Past articles by Alaa:
Welcome to the small Idaho town where fake news speaks louder than truth
TWIN FALLS, Idaho—Sofia Ali escaped the war in Syria four years ago, but now faces a new type of threat to her safety in “America’s heartland.” → Read More
Myanmar’s genocide is foreign, yet all too familiar
CHICAGO—Prior to visiting the Rohingya Cultural Center, I couldn’t tell you what the difference was between Burma and Myanmar. → Read More
Why I Stopped Referring to the Middle East as the Arab World
In light of the Kurdish referendum, where people living in Northern Iraq overwhelmingly voted for the independence of the region of Kurdistan, I sat at my kitchen table this morning rethinking my position on this issue. → Read More
Halla Barakat and her mother were stabbed to death. Now I fear for my life
I was sitting in class when my phone started to blow up with incoming messages: “Did you hear what happened to Halla Barakat?” My heart raced. “What happened?” I texted back. → Read More
‘There’s a hero in everyone,’ says head of volunteer disaster-response team
Dr. → Read More
A video is upsetting both Muslim conservatives and Islamophobes
Muslim conservatives and Islamophobes have finally found something they can agree on: They’re both pissed about Mona Haydar’s new rap video. → Read More
This professor is using mosques to teach Muslim youth the language of the future
There’s a new language being taught in mosques across North America. → Read More
When dinner stories fill your stomach, heart, and soul
MIAMI—Too often we focus on what makes us different, but we’re actually more alike than we think. → Read More
“He stared at me, took out a knife and sneered ‘Deport them all’”
In the hospital waiting room, the white man’ penetrating eyes made me uncomfortable. Five minutes later, the man took out a pocket knife, opened it, and set it down on the empty seat between us. Does Donald Trump approve this message? → Read More
It's not safe to wear my hijab now that Trump will be president
Despite facing constant Islamophobia over the 12 years I’ve worn a hijab in America, nothing had ever compelled me to remove it before. Until Election Day. → Read More
Muslim Americans fearful of Trump presidency: 'He sees us as less than human'
Fear and uncertainty is boiling within Muslim-American communities nationwide after Donald Trump was declared the next president of the United States. → Read More
How Arab Americans are fighting racism and hate on Election Day with a phone call
Arab Americans worried about voter intimidation on Election Day are relying on a phone call to quell their fears. → Read More
This Syrian man is stuck in limbo after escaping to another war-torn country
Nasser Al Halabi is a 26-year-old Syrian citizen who fled home, was deported from Saudi Arabia, found himself homeless in Turkey, and now lives in the DRC. → Read More
How Muslim Americans are organizing in swing states to make their voices heard
Do Muslim Americans have the power to tip the election in swing states? An unprecedented campaign called #MyMuslimVote thinks so, and is urging them to vote. → Read More
To cover or not to cover: Muslim women's struggle with the hijab
Nazí Paikidze’s recent decision to boycott the Women’s World Chess Championship has set off a debate about hijabs and what they symbolize: oppression or choice? → Read More
"United States of Donald Trump": Muslim boy flees U.S. after classmates allegedly attack him
Two days before Donald Trump acknowledged the existence of Islamophobia at the last debate, the 7-year-old was beaten up for being Muslim, his father claims. → Read More
Why I swap my hijab for an Orthodox Jewish hat while flying
#FlyingWhileMuslim isn’t just a hashtag on Twitter—the struggle is real, especially for women like me who wear a hijab. → Read More
This photo series of Muslims praying in public places will open your eyes
Sana Ullah started an Instagram photo series in January 2015 called “Places You’ll Pray” to combat negative images of Muslims in the media. → Read More
The clever way this website is fighting Islamophobia
Launched on Sept. 15, Islamically.com is fighting back against negative media portrayals of Muslims by showing site visitors what Islam actually teaches. → Read More
Westerners and conservative Muslims: stop telling me what to wear
Seeing photos of armed French police forcing a Muslim woman to remove her burkini at the beach on Wednesday reminded me of two groups of people who’ve taunted me for years: ignorant Westerners and conservative Muslims in the Middle East. → Read More