Press

In the news

135 articles, broadcasts and profiles that have quoted or featured him since 2008.

Recent coverage

Religion News Service
More universities added Muslim chaplains post 9/11. Then came 10/7.
2026
Yale Daily News
Departing seniors praise community within Yale’s religious groups
Nabil Rahman ’26, past president of the Muslim Students Association, on the community the chaplain has built.
2026
The New York Review of Books
The new imams
On imam training, burnout and the cultural realities of American Muslim life.
2025
Islamic Horizons
Remember, reflect, and reimagine
2025
New Haven Independent
Vigil honors immigrants “kidnapped” by ICE
He invoked the story of Yusuf.
2025
MuslimMatters
A university chaplain’s perspective on campus protests
2024

Full archive

135 of 135 items

2026

Religion News Service, carried by the Associated Press and The Washington Post
More universities added Muslim chaplains post 9/11. Then came 10/7.
New Haven Independent
Mosques team up for prayer service, festival
He led a joint Eid al-Adha prayer for New Haven’s mosques at Payne Whitney Gymnasium.
Yale Daily News
Departing seniors praise community within Yale’s religious groups
Nabil Rahman ’26, past president of the Muslim Students Association, on the community the chaplain has built.

2025

The New York Review of Books
The new imams
On imam training, burnout and the cultural realities of American Muslim life.
Islamic Horizons, on the Association of Muslim Chaplains conference
Remember, reflect, and reimagine
New Haven Independent
Vigil honors immigrants “kidnapped” by ICE
He invoked the story of Yusuf.

2024

Hartford International University
Award-winning documentary focuses on Yale chaplain Omer Bajwa’s journey to becoming a chaplain
Yale Daily News
Yale opens dedicated MENA cultural suite, appoints second Muslim chaplain
MuslimMatters, five-part interview with Imam Abdul-Muhaymin Priester
A university chaplain’s perspective on campus protests
CT by the Numbers
Documentary filmmaker earns award for feature on Yale’s first Muslim chaplain
New Haven Independent
At inauguration, imam and rabbi pray for justice
He gave the invocation at the city’s mayoral inauguration.
Yale Daily News
With religious engagement on the rise, religious groups make preparations to welcome first-year class
Yale Daily News
Muslim community at Yale and in New Haven celebrate Ramadan
On the halal dining program he helped Yale Hospitality design in 2013.
Yale Daily News
Meet Maytal Saltiel, Yale’s first Jewish University Chaplain
On the chaplaincy course they co-teach at the Divinity School.
Yale Daily News
Maytal Saltiel becomes first Jewish Chaplain of Yale
Yale Daily News
New Haven officials, all Democrats, sworn in for new terms
Yale Alumni Magazine, President Peter Salovey’s letter
Creating a spirit of unity and shared purpose
New Haven Register
Elicker highlights New Haven values at city inauguration
He gave the invocation with Rabbi Woodward.

2023

Global Village Space, Pakistan
Yale Muslim Student Association organizes annual Ivy Muslim Conference
Islamic Voice, Bangalore
Yale’s annual Ivy Muslim Conference encourages connection and spirituality
Yale Daily News
Palestinian and Muslim students express safety concerns after shooting in Vermont
Yale Daily News
Annual Ivy Muslim Conference encourages connection and spirituality
Yale Daily News
City leaders, protest organizers condemn desecration of menorah during Saturday rally
Yale Daily News
Muslim students celebrate the month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr
Hartford Courant
CT city leaders condemn Palestinian flag stuck into public menorah

2022

Yale Daily News
Muslim students celebrate Ramadan during the month of April
Yale News
Open door, open heart: in new book, Yale’s Muslim chaplain shares his story
Religion News Service, in Interfaith America
Muslim chaplains forge a new way of thinking about Islam in secular places
Religion News Service and the Associated Press, in Interfaith America
Campus ministries, counselors join to tackle mental health
Islamic Horizons
Always ask questions before selecting a university
On Yale’s halal dining program, one of the best in the country.
Yale Daily News
Students raise over $3,000 for Pakistan flood relief
New Haven Arts Paper
Ramadan rituals reborn at UNH
His remarks before a community iftar: work on your empathy.

2021

NBC News
Muslim Americans on finding love as third-culture kids turned adults
Yale Daily News
Two decades later, Yalies reflect on 9/11
WhyIslam
Inspired by Muhammad: caring for his flock
Yale Daily News
Spring holidays at Yale: how the pandemic changed community celebration
Yale Daily News
Muslim student leaders discuss legacy of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty ‘Over a Black Coffee’
New Haven Register
How 9/11 changed the lives of these Connecticut Muslims, spurred need to educate
CT Examiner
COVID underscores longer trends, and a longing to come together for the faithful
NBC Connecticut
AG Tong, AAPI community speak out against hate

2020

The Day, New London
Speaker at Islamic Center talks about growing up Muslim
Hartford Courant
Connecticut Muslims celebrating Ramadan differently this year as coronavirus cancels community prayers and iftars
Yale News
Yale’s faith leaders bridge social distance to foster fellowship
Yale Daily News
Yale religious groups prepare for a restricted semester
Hartford Courant
The year in pictures 2020
His Ramadan meal distribution at Masjid Al-Islam, photographed by Kassi Jackson.
New Haven Arts Paper
Clergy members preach universal testing
New Haven Independent
Faith leaders press for COVID-19 relief in neighborhoods and behind bars
New Haven Independent
Interfaith leaders speak up for solidarity
Patch
No hate in New Haven
Connecticut Jewish Ledger
No hate. No fear.
New Haven Independent
No hate. No fear.

2019

Anadolu Agency
American Muslims support the arson-struck Diyanet Mosque
Connecticut Public Radio
Community gathers for vigil following arson at New Haven mosque
Daily Nutmeg
Sit-down meeting: Jummah prayers at Muslim Life at Yale
Yale Daily News
Chaplain’s Office and MSA host annual Muslim Life Banquet
NBC Connecticut
Community comes together for iftar dinner after mosque fire
Hartford Courant
Coming together to help ‘our Muslims’
On the fundraiser he and his wife launched after the arson at New Haven’s Diyanet Mosque.
Yale Daily News
After life: Muslim deathcare in New Haven
Yale Daily News
Y2Y to host faculty comedy show
He tried his hand at stand-up for charity.
Yale Daily News
Muslim Students Association hosts conference, awareness week
New Haven Independent
Interfaith peace waged
Daily Nutmeg
Divine inspiration: summer study at Yale Divinity School
New Haven Register
Torched mosque a ‘second house’ to Muslims, many with connection to Turkey
NBC Connecticut
New Haven launches Protect House of Worship campaign after mosque fire
New Haven Independent
Mourning, solidarity mark mosque vigil
Hartford Courant
Hundreds gather at New Haven mosque that burned

2018

AboutIslam
Connecticut Muslim children set for Ramadan exams
New Haven Independent
The Muslim women you’ve never met
Yale Daily News
Prayer brings New Haveners hope
New Haven Independent
A prayer for the city amid harsh times
New Haven Register
Area Muslims reflect on Ramadan school days
New Haven Register
Albertus Magnus lecture aims for enhanced local Catholic-Muslim relations

2017

Religion News Service, in Sojourners
Meet the only imam to pray before Congress twice
The Chronicle of Higher Education
‘Sometimes you go home with tears’: being a college’s Muslim chaplain
Yale Daily News
Unapologetically Muslim
New Haven Independent
1,500 take stand against Trump’s ban
Yale Daily News
For God, for community, and for Yale
Yale Daily News
Muslim ban sparks discussion
Yale Daily News
Yale community feels impact of immigration ban
New Haven Register
2 million Muslims from across globe arriving in Mecca for the hajj
He has made the pilgrimage twice, once as a graduate student and once with his wife and parents.
Connecticut Jewish Ledger
Second annual Beckerman Jewish Film Series
New Haven Register
Muslim leaders in Greater New Haven concerned about Trump orders on immigration
New Haven Register
Crowd at Yale shows support to Muslims, refugees affected by Trump order

2016

AboutIslam
Yale students mark bittersweet Islam Awareness Week
Yale News
Yale recognizes outstanding staff with 2016 Linda K. Lorimer Awards
Yale Daily News
Muslims at Yale unite against rising hate crime
Yale Daily News
A safe space for faith
Yale Daily News
Eid banquet celebrates solidarity
Yale Daily News
Freshmen find welcome in religious communities
Yale Daily News Magazine
The divide
A long feature on Muslim life at Yale. Attendance at Friday prayers more than tripled during his tenure.
Yale Daily News
Comedian challenges racial prejudices
Yale Daily News
Islam Awareness Week opens dialogue
Yale Daily News
Vigil commemorates three Fort Wayne murders
NBC Connecticut
SCSU’s forum on Islam draws hundreds
New Haven Independent
Buddhist chants, Koranic verses mix with Episcopal prayers
New Haven Register
Trinity marks bicentennial with interfaith event in New Haven

2015

Yale News
Exploring interfaith communities on campus at Coming Together 7

2014

HuffPost
Muslim leaders condemn Boko Haram in letter led by Representatives Ellison and Carson
OnFaith
What does it mean to be a Muslim at Yale University?
Yale Daily News
Groups embroiled in controversy over speaker
The New Journal
No God, no problem?

2013

ABC News and Univision
What it feels like to be spied on for your religion
On the NYPD’s surveillance of Yale’s Muslim Students Association.
Yale Daily News
Eid banquet celebrates Muslim tradition and responsibility

2012

The Guardian
NYPD surveillance will only hurt anti-terrorism efforts, say Muslims
The New Journal
Growing up Eli
New Haven Independent
An imam preaches peace from a pulpit on the Green
Yale Daily News
Muslim students convene at Yale
Yale Daily News
Eid banquet brings students together
Yale Daily News
Yale Muslims work to open dialogue
New Haven Independent
New Haven comes together for Newtown
New Haven Register
Yale imam deplores violence from church pulpit

2011

HuffPost
Michael Oren, Israeli ambassador, hosts Ramadan iftar with Muslim Americans
USA Today
More U.S. colleges adding Muslim chaplains
Yale Daily News
Muslim life coordinator attends iftar hosted by Israeli ambassador
Yale Daily News
Muslim chaplains at universities growing in numbers
Yale Alumni Magazine
YDS students tour Saudi Arabia

2010

Yale News
Celebrating religious plurality is goal of staff
Arab News
Muslim chaplains serve US college campuses
Yale Daily News
Ramadan unites Muslim students during Camp Yale
Yale Daily News
Yale Hillel hosts conference
Yale Daily News
Sheikh talks jihad
Yale Daily News
Ivy Muslims hold conference
The Ivy Muslim Conference, described as his brainchild.
New Haven Independent
Fast broken, ties built

2009

Yale Daily News, co-written with University Chaplain Sharon Kugler
Letter: Cartoonist’s invitation contrary to Yale’s religious acceptance
Yale Daily News
Islamic scholars assemble at Yale
New Haven Register
Islam in New Haven, part III: Yale
New Haven Register
Muslim cartoon fallout hits Yale: author says issue overblown

2008

Cornell Daily Sun
Panel discusses Iraq refugee crisis
Sightings, University of Chicago Divinity School, by Eboo Patel
God and Man at Yale
Yale Daily News
A new Muslim resource
Yale Daily News
Panel dispels myths
Yale Daily News
Faiths unite at Ramadan dinner

2007

Cornell Chronicle
Banquet celebrates end of Ramadan with diverse group of Cornellians
On his appointment as Cornell’s first Muslim chaplain.
Cornell Daily Sun
Students celebrate end of Ramadan at Eid feast

2006

Cornell Chronicle
Advice from a Muslim: don’t stereotype Muslims as bombers, billionaires or belly dancers