Welcome to Our Newsletter!
As-salamu alaykum and welcome to the December edition of the Kufi Productions newsletter! We're thrilled to launch this monthly digest bringing you compelling stories, cultural insights, and community connections that matter to Muslim and ethnic communities.
This edition features investigative journalism on global conflicts, heartfelt stories from Gaza, spiritual reflections, and vibrant community events. Let's dive in!
✨ CREATOR SPOTLIGHT
December: Shaniyat Turani
Shaniyat Turani is a fearless investigative journalist whose work is driven by a profound sense of responsibility, forged at the intersection of his identities and experiences. His creative journey began not in a newsroom but from a personal restlessness, shaped by a military background, political work, and a transformative moment on the ground in Palestine. There, witnessing the erasure of lived reality, he realized storytelling was his essential tool for accountability. Turani's Muslim faith and Bengali diaspora background deeply inform his perspective, teaching him to sit with contradiction and resist the simplification of complex human stories. He explicitly rejects the chase for a false neutrality, choosing instead to pursue honesty and dignity for communities that are often spoken about but rarely heard.
🎬 FEATURED INVESTIGATIONS
Palantir: Surveillance Capitalism and Human Rights
This article examines the complex motivations behind the U.S. government's push to ban TikTok, tracing the platform's rapid rise since 2016 and the subsequent national security concerns. The author analyzes historical evidence of Chinese Communist Party influence on content moderation, particularly the conspicuous absence of Hong Kong protest coverage in 2019 and internal policies censoring sensitive topics. Rather than dismissing concerns as mere paranoia, the piece argues for a nuanced understanding that acknowledges legitimate worries about algorithmic manipulation while recognizing economic protectionism as an equally significant driver. The analysis draws parallels to the Broadcom-Qualcomm case, illustrating how national security rhetoric often intertwines with efforts to curtail Chinese economic competition in the technology sector.
📰 NEWS ROUNDUP
Top US Domestic News - December 2025
DOJ Releases Redacted Epstein Files, Transparency Still Out of Reach
The Department of Justice released another tranche of documents tied to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein this week, though most of the material arrived heavily redacted. Names, timelines, and institutional connections remain obscured, reinforcing long-standing concerns that accountability in the Epstein case continues to be selectively managed rather than fully pursued. Survivors’ advocates argue the release functions more as damage control than disclosure.
The timing matters. Public pressure for transparency has grown louder amid broader distrust in federal institutions and elite impunity. For many, the question is no longer what happened but who is still being protected. Each partial release seems to confirm that the full architecture of abuse and complicity remains intentionally out of view.
Immigration System Tightens Under the Banner of “Security”
New restrictions and administrative slowdowns continue to reshape the U.S. immigration system, with visa processing delays, asylum backlogs, and heightened scrutiny becoming the norm rather than the exception. Officials frame the measures as security upgrades, but advocates say the impact is clear: families separated longer, workers left in limbo, and asylum seekers pushed into legal gray zones.
What’s notable is how quietly these changes are happening. Unlike border theatrics, bureaucratic tightening rarely makes headlines, yet it produces the same result through paperwork and delay. For migrant communities, the message is familiar: legality remains conditional, provisional, and easily withdrawn.
Gun Violence at Brown University Triggers Lockdown and Raises Safety Questions
Brown University ordered a shelter-in-place this week after a fatal shooting near campus led to a multi-hour police search. According to law enforcement and university statements, the suspect was later killed during an encounter with police and was believed to have been involved in a prior domestic incident. Classes and campus activities were canceled as students received a series of emergency alerts advising them to remain indoors.
Students and faculty described confusion as details emerged slowly and unevenly. University officials emphasized coordination with local and state police, but the episode exposed familiar fault lines in campus emergency response and gun access beyond university grounds. As with similar incidents nationwide, the immediate lockdown ended quickly. The underlying questions about safety, prevention, and accountability did not.
Top International News - December 2025
Killing of Yasser Abu Shabab Raises Alarms Over Israel’s Use of Proxy Militias
Yasser Abu Shabab was killed in Gaza this month amid reports linking him to armed groups operating with Israeli backing in areas under military control. Palestinian sources say Abu Shabab had emerged as a local powerbroker involved in aid interception and armed coordination in eastern Rafah, operating in zones inaccessible to civilians and journalists. His killing has exposed the increasingly fragmented and opaque security landscape inside Gaza.
The episode has raised serious concerns about Israel’s reliance on proxy forces and informal militias as the war grinds on. Rather than restoring order, these arrangements appear to deepen lawlessness, undermine humanitarian aid delivery, and place civilians at greater risk. As Gaza’s formal governance structures are dismantled, the use of armed intermediaries suggests a shift toward managed chaos rather than any coherent postwar vision.
Syria Sees Renewed Airstrikes Amid Regional Escalation
Israeli airstrikes hit targets near Damascus and southern Syria this week, reportedly aimed at Iranian-linked positions. Syrian state media reported casualties, while regional analysts warn the strikes signal a widening conflict footprint tied to Gaza and Lebanon.
Syria remains a pressure valve for regional escalation, where attacks are frequent enough to feel routine and dangerous enough to spark wider confrontation. For civilians, the war never ended. It simply changed tempo, continuing under the radar of a world focused elsewhere.
Sudan’s War Enters Deadlier Phase as Civilian Toll Grows
Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces intensified in Khartoum and Darfur, with reports of mass displacement and ethnic targeting. Aid groups say access to civilians is nearly impossible in some areas, while famine conditions spread quietly beyond international headlines.
Sudan’s war has become one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises largely out of sight. The absence of sustained diplomatic pressure has allowed the conflict to metastasize, leaving civilians trapped between rival armed factions with little expectation of relief or accountability.
Bondi Beach Shooting Leaves Dead, Muslim Bystander Intervenes
Australian authorities are investigating a deadly shooting at Bondi Beach that targeted a Hanukkah gathering, leaving multiple people injured and prompting heightened security across Jewish sites nationwide. Police said the suspect was killed at the scene, and officials are treating the attack as a possible hate crime.
Witnesses say a Muslim bystander, Ahmed El Ahemed, intervened during the attack and helped stop the shooter, actions credited with preventing further casualties. While public debate quickly turned toward condemnation and security measures, El Ahemed’s role has drawn attention for complicating the narratives that often emerge after such attacks, where Muslims are frequently framed through suspicion rather than solidarity.
🌙 CULTURAL HERITAGE & SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS
Duaa of the month: Ayatul Kursi
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
Transliteration: Allahu laaa ilaaha illaa huwal haiyul qai-yoom; laa taakhuzuhoo sinatunw wa laa nawm; lahoo maa fissamaawaati wa maa fil ard; man zallazee yashfa'u indahooo illaa be iznih; ya'lamu maa baina aideehim wa maa khalfahum; wa laa yuheetoona beshai 'immin 'ilmihee illa be maa shaaaa; wasi'a kursiyyuhus samaa waati wal arda wa la ya'ooduho hifzuhumaa; wa huwal aliyyul 'azeem
Translation: Allah! There is no god but He - the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor Sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there that can intercede in His presence except as he permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures As) Before or After or Behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His throne doth extend over the heavens and on earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them, For He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).
In light of recent global events, many people are facing increased challenges, including racism and discrimination—particularly against Muslim women who wear the hijab. Additionally, the noticeable rise in homelessness and untreated mental health issues in public spaces presents unpredictable risks. Having personally experienced an unprovoked attack, I encourage reciting this dua as you leave your home for protection from external harm. While some who recite protective prayers still experience hardship, remember that every event in life contains khair (goodness), even if it's not immediately apparent. Everything is written in the Qadr (divine decree) of Allah, who is watching, and the angels are recording everything.
The Loneliness Epidemic: The Story of the Healed Femur and Survival of Civilization
The famed anthropologist Margaret Mead once identified the earliest sign of civilization not as a tool or weapon, but as a healed human femur bone. This evidence of ancient care—that someone fed, protected, and stayed with an injured person—shows civilization begins with compassion and connection. This idea resonates powerfully today amid a widespread loneliness epidemic, where despite digital connectivity, many feel profoundly isolated. This isolation harms both mental and physical health. The lesson of the healed femur reminds us that addressing modern loneliness requires a return to this fundamental instinct: choosing to care for one another, building communities where no one is left to heal alone.
🎙️ PRODUCTION UPDATES & EXCLUSIVES
The Treaded Path Podcast: New Episode Released!![]()
In this episode of the Treaded Path podcast, host Salman Hasan speaks with Imam Adeel Zeb, CEO of Halal Love Journey, about the complexities of Muslim marriages and the importance of pre-marital and marital coaching. They discuss the challenges faced in inter-cultural marriages, the significant role families play in marriage decisions, and the impact of AI on relationships. Imam Adeel shares insights on common issues in matchmaking, the need for decolonizing mindsets, and successful examples in the industry. He also provides valuable resources for individuals seeking to find a spouse and discusses the future of concierge matchmaking services.
🎪 COMMUNITY & EVENTS
Run For Sudan!
Hosted by the Sudanese Resistance Front (SURF), this community run and walk in Prospect Park turns fitness into meaningful advocacy to raise awareness of the ongoing crisis. With dedicated groups for both walkers and runners, everyone is welcome to participate at their own pace. Afterward, enjoy coffee, snacks, and connect with others to learn how all proceeds support vital aid for Sudan. Let's lace up our shoes for a powerful cause.
Explore more NYC events year-round →
The Voice of Hind Rajab: A Reminder of How Humanity Failed and Why We Must Do Better
The Voice of Hind Rajab, directed by Kaouther Ben Hania (known for The Man Who Sold His Skin (2020) and Four Daughters (2023)), debuted on December 17, 2025. Premiering nearly two years after the 2024 massacre, the film follows employees at the Palestinian Red Crescent Society desperately attempting to deliver emergency aid to Rajab, the sole survivour, with dramatizations of emergency workers racing against time and the situation’s emotional impact as they coordinate paramedics who could save her.
💌 Stay Connected
Thank you for joining us for this second edition! We're committed to bringing you stories that matter, voices that inspire, and connections that strengthen our communities.
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, & LinkedIn and visit our website, www.kufiproductions.com, for more content throughout the month.
Until next time,
The Kufi Productions Team
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