Islam

BERLIN -- A 25-year-old Islamist was remanded in custody in Germany on Monday, accused of the attempted murder of three policemen as they were separating neo-Nazis from Islamic fundamentalist protesters.

Mohamed Mabrouk wears the traditional white robe of an imam. But instead of the foreign-accented English that for decades has been the norm among American Muslim religious leaders, the new 21-year-old leader of a California mosque speaks with the Detroit accent he has carried with him from childhood.

Mabrouk's appointment last month as imam of the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley in California is a sign of a changing Muslim community that is shifting from being almost entirely immigrant-led to one in which young, U.S.-born people are increasingly taking leadership roles.

The membership of mosques is also becoming more American-born, as the children of Muslim immigrants who arrived in the United States in the 1970s, '80s and '90s make up a rising percentage of worshippers.

WASHINGTON — Three months ago, one of the CIA’s most experienced clandestine operatives started work inside the New York Police Department. His title is special assistant to the deputy commissioner of intelligence. On that much, everyone agrees.

TRIPOLI, Libya — Libyans on Wednesday wept over the graves of those killed in their six-month war against Moammar Gadhafi, then celebrated their newfound freedom with morning prayers and joyous chants in the capital’s main square — bittersweet rituals marking the start of a major Muslim holiday.

BAGHDAD -- The suicide bomber who killed 29 people at Baghdad's largest Sunni mosque disguised himself as a beggar and attended prayers there for nearly a week to avoid raising suspicions, a senior religious figure said Monday.

The attack hit Sunnis praying at a special service Sunday night during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan and appeared calculated to try to re-ignite widespread violence in Iraq just months before all U.S. troops are required to withdraw from the country.

VIENNA — In the photographs now circulating around the world, Anders Behring Breivik looks almost preppy. Neatly parted blond hair frames a boyishly handsome face. The upturned collar of a peach-colored polo shirt pokes through a dark Izod sweater.

It’s hard to reconcile the softly smiling young man in these professional studio shots with the monster who witnesses say donned a police uniform and ruthlessly hunted down scores of young Norwegians, even firing at those who jumped into freezing water in a desperate bid to escape his rampage.

“I’ll kill every one of you,” he shouted at victims, witnesses recalled.

Tea Party of Mississippi founder Don Daniels is planning a protest of what he calls "radical Islam" at an Islamic center on the day before Easter.

Daniels said this week he expects to draw hundreds to the event outside the Nation of Islam Southaven Muhammad Study Group in Southaven, Miss., from 10 a.m. to noon on April 23.