Turkish MPs enter parliament wearing headscarves

The lawmakers -- Sevde Beyazit Kacar, Gulay Samanci, Nurcan Dalbudak and Gonul Bekin Sahkulubey -- attended the chamber on Thursday wearing the hijab, which is traditionally worn by many women in Turkey.

The four are all members of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP).
"I will no longer take off my headscarf," Sahkulubey was quoted as saying by Turkey's Milliyet newspaper, noting that "I expect everyone to respect my decision."
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/10/31/332325/turkey-mps-enter-parl-with-headscarves/

Pope urges inter-religious dialogue in Myanmar

Pope Francis called for inter-religious dialogue in Myanmar on Monday at an audience for Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi in which the two also discussed her long campaign for democracy.

Francis "expressed his appreciation for the opposition leader's non-violent engagement in the cause of peace and democracy" during the meeting, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said.

"The pope said he would pray for Myanmar, for inter-religious dialogue in the country. He also said the Church would be at the service of everyone in Myanmar without discriminating."
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/pope-urges-inter/865184.html

Southern California Mosques Open Doors To Fight Islamophobia

Mosques from San Diego to Los Angeles opened their doors to people of all faiths on Sunday.  Now in its 12th year, Open Mosque Day is sponsored by the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California.  The event aims to dispel Muslim stereotypes and Islamophobia that still persist in the U.S. more than a decade after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
On a Sunday, when Christians attend church, Muslims invited the public to step inside their place of worship to take a tour and ask questions.  Ahmed Asim Buyuksoy is the Director of Religious Affairs at The Islamic Center of Southern California.
http://abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&Id=476536

Why-Islam Expands in Mexico

After notable success in the US, a leading Muslim organization has expanded its awareness campaign to Mexico to present an accurate image of Islam and create new opportunities for dialogue with a new community.
“We should be ready to welcome them and have resources available to them to further their understanding," Nouman Ali Khan, a community leader participating in the one month tour of Mexico, was quoted as saying in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 30.
http://www.onislam.net/english/news/americas/465575-why-islam-expands-in-mexico-.html