Welcome to Our Newsletter!
As-salamu alaykum and welcome to the next edition of the Kufi Productions newsletter! We're happy to bring you compelling stories, cultural insights, and community connections that matter to Muslim and ethnic communities.
Let's dive in!
✨ CREATOR SPOTLIGHT
January: Zoya Rukh Awan
Zoya is a natural connector and energetic collaborator. Her lifelong creative journey, a co-creation with the Divine, began with an instinct for art and movement. This evolved into travel, revealing her profound role as a creator. She sees life itself as art, expressed through everything from storytelling to community building. Her Muslim faith provides a rhythm of intention, teaching that beauty reflects the Divine, while her Pakistani heritage infuses a love for color, story, and lineage. She carries this forward to build bridges, recently launching her YouTube channel, "Zoya the Explorer." This project is a meaningful, collaborative effort to weave a global community back to a shared sense of connection and the One.
🎬 FEATURED INVESTIGATIONS
TikTok: Government Censorship and Surveillance Tool Research Brief (Part 2)
This article explores how the TikTok ban gained renewed momentum after October 7th, arguing that protecting Israel's image became a key motivation alongside existing data security concerns. The author contends that TikTok's relatively uncensored platform allowed pro-Palestinian content to shift American public opinion, particularly among youth, threatening traditional pro-Israel narratives controlled by mainstream media. Representative Mike Gallagher, a major AIPAC donation recipient and ban advocate, is cited as evidence of Zionist influence, having blamed TikTok's algorithm for Americans supporting Palestinians. The piece argues that politicians' appeals to freedom and human rights are hypocritical, as the ban ultimately aims to replace Chinese censorship with American-Israeli censorship rather than eliminate propaganda altogether.
📰 NEWS ROUNDUP
Top US Domestic News - January 2026
U.S. Military Strike on Venezuela and Capture of President Maduro
On January 3, 2026, the United States conducted airstrikes in Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro. President Trump announced the U.S. would temporarily run Venezuela's government until a proper transition could occur. Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were indicted in the Southern District of New York on drug, arms and conspiracy charges. This unprecedented military action marked a major escalation in U.S. foreign policy.
The unilateral military intervention and seizure of a sitting head of state, followed by the announcement that the U.S. would directly govern another sovereign nation, marks an unprecedented assertion of American power in the Western Hemisphere. The action has profound implications for international relations, the Monroe Doctrine's modern interpretation, and U.S. credibility with allies and adversaries alike. It raises serious questions about executive war powers, congressional oversight, and whether such interventions could become a template for future foreign policy actions. The move has sparked intense debate about American imperialism, regime change operations, and the future of democratic governance in Latin America.
ICE Immigration Enforcement Surge and Fatal Shooting in Minneapolis
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have conducted an aggressive enforcement campaign, particularly in Minneapolis, which included the fatal shooting of a protester and deployment of 1,500 soldiers potentially to Minnesota. Some immigrants in Minneapolis reported being scared to leave their homes because of ICE agents across the city. The situation sparked widespread protests and civil unrest, with authorities arresting civil rights attorneys and protesters who disrupted church services.
The widespread fear among immigrant communities, arrests of civil rights attorneys, and disruption of religious services suggest a potential erosion of constitutional protections. This enforcement surge is creating a climate of fear that affects not just undocumented immigrants but entire communities, potentially impacting public safety as people become afraid to report crimes or access essential services.
Trump's Greenland Acquisition Push and European Tensions
President Trump threatened to impose tariffs on eight European countries that oppose his push to take over Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark. Trump intensified his threats as Europe weighed retaliatory tariffs. The diplomatic crisis strained NATO alliances, with Danish veterans expressing feelings of betrayal after standing alongside American soldiers in past conflicts.
This story matters because it threatens the foundation of the NATO alliance and the post-World War II international order. The attempt to coerce a democratic ally into surrendering sovereign territory through economic threats represents a fundamental challenge to principles of self-determination and territorial integrity that underpin modern international relations. The crisis is forcing European nations to reconsider their dependence on American security guarantees and could accelerate European strategic autonomy initiatives. For Denmark and Greenland, the situation raises questions about Arctic sovereignty at a time when climate change is opening new strategic and economic opportunities in the region. The dispute also complicates Western unity at a moment when coordination against other global challenges is critical.
Top International News - December 2025
Iran Protests and Government Crackdown Result in Massive Casualties
Beginning in late December 2025, Iranian security forces engaged in massacres of dissidents, with estimates of protesters killed ranging from over 3,300 to 20,000 as of January 18, 2026. The demonstrations erupted across multiple cities amid nationwide unrest against the Islamic Republic government and a deepening economic crisis, representing the largest uprising since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Iranian authorities imposed a near-total internet shutdown during the crackdown, restricting communication and limiting information flow about the killings.
The scale of casualties—possibly the deadliest state violence against protesters since the 1979 revolution—suggests the Islamic Republic faces an existential crisis of legitimacy. The near-total internet shutdown and extreme violence indicate the regime's desperation to maintain control. If the protests continue or succeed in toppling the government, it would fundamentally reshape the Middle East's power dynamics, affecting conflicts in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, and the Israeli-Palestinian situation. The international community faces difficult questions about how to respond to mass atrocities while navigating complex geopolitical interests. The outcome could determine Iran's trajectory for generations.
Deadly Wildfires Devastate Chile
Wildfires in Chile's Biobío and Ñuble regions have killed 21 people and forced over 50,000 to evacuate since starting on January 16, 2026. The fires burned over 45,000 hectares as of January 21, with 325 homes destroyed. Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in the affected regions, with temperatures exceeding 38°C and strong winds contributing to the rapid spread
Chile's experience serves as a warning for other regions facing similar climate risks, particularly during Southern Hemisphere summers that are becoming increasingly severe. The tragedy highlights the urgent need for improved fire management, emergency preparedness, and climate adaptation strategies. Beyond the immediate humanitarian crisis, the destruction of homes and displacement of tens of thousands will have long-term economic and social consequences for affected communities.
Israel Demolishes UNRWA Headquarters in East Jerusalem
Israeli forces began demolishing the headquarters of UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, in occupied East Jerusalem. The U.N. agency stated this was an unprecedented attack and constitutes a serious violation of international law and the privileges and immunities of the United Nations. UNRWA was established in 1949 to provide aid to displaced Palestinians.
The demolition signals a potential shift toward eliminating the institutional framework that has maintained refugee assistance for over 75 years. This action raises fundamental questions about international law, the privileges and immunities of UN agencies, and whether international institutions can function when powerful states choose to disregard them. The move could set dangerous precedents for how other nations treat UN operations on their territory.
🌙 CULTURAL HERITAGE & SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS
Duaa of the month: Dua for Goodness
اللهم اجعل خير أيام حياتي آخرها، وخير عملي آخره، وخير أيامي يوم ألقاك فيه
Transliteration: Allahumma ja'al khaira zamani akhiraahu, wa khaira amali khawatimahu, wa khaira ayyami yawma alqaak
Translation: "O Allah, let the best of my lifetime be its ending, my best deed be the one that I seal my life with, and let the best of my days be the day that I meet you".
Returning from Umrah, I spent my flight home in deep reflection. Leaving was bittersweet, but I couldn't help but smile; I was finally one of the blessed ones invited to the House of Allah. Missing my flight two years ago had left me devastated—it was a painful loss of both money and opportunity—but being there now, at the start of a new year with Ramadan approaching, felt like the perfect divine timing.
One realization that weighed heavy on me: we have so little time. Watching the funeral prayers after every Salah in Makkah and Medina made me realize that Allah can call us home at any moment. It made my dua very clear: I want to leave this world having done something great. I want to be remembered for my kindness and for touching people's lives. I asked the Giver of Gifts for the highest Jannah, knowing He gives to those who keep Him in their hearts. My soul misses it already. If you have the health and you are young, don’t wait. It’s a journey where the spiritual reward far outweighs the physical exhaustion.
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Al-Fattah: The One who opens the doors that seem locked (like your journey after the two-year delay).
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Al-Wahhab: The One who gives purely as a gift, without us even needing to earn it.
The War of the Roses: A Historical Account of Colonizers from Within
In a world heavily influenced by the colonizers of the past, it's important to understand what matters the most to the colonizers and why the same patterns keep repeating throughout history. Read the infographic below to learn about unquenchable thirst for power by these colonizers, despite the bloodlines and relations to each other.
🎙️ PRODUCTION UPDATES & EXCLUSIVES
The Treaded Path Podcast: New Episode Released!![]()
In this episode of the Trader Path podcast, host Salman Hasan speaks with Nimrah Riaz, founder of Siraat Strategies, about her journey in creating authentic experiences for Muslims in the sports industry. Nimrah discusses the importance of community engagement, the challenges faced by Muslim women in sports, and the role of mentorship in navigating the industry. She emphasizes the need for more representation and support for young Muslim athletes, as well as the significance of building relationships with organizations to promote accountability and diversity. The conversation highlights actionable advice for aspiring professionals and the future of Muslim representation in sports.
🎪 COMMUNITY & EVENTS
Taste of Sudan: Food, Poetry, and Solidarity at The People’s Forum!
On Saturday, January 23rd, The People’s Forum in Midtown Manhattan became a space of gathering, storytelling, and shared purpose for Taste of Sudan, a community fundraiser in support of the Sudanese United Relief Front (SuRF). People travelled from across New York City and beyond to experience authentic Sudanese cuisine, local poetry, academic anecdotes, and conversations rooted in global solidarity.
Explore more NYC events year-round →
The Muslim House @ Sundance Film Festival
The Muslim House is a cultural hub founded and presented by the MPAC Hollywood Bureau, where American Muslim storytellers and allies come together at major film festivals to learn, collaborate, and create. With support from the Doris Duke Foundation, The Muslim House continues to expand at Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, and Tribeca - building cultural power, visibility, and momentum that can't be ignored.
💌 Stay Connected
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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