Religion/ Spirituality

The first woman featured in Playboy wearing a hijab says Gigi Hadid can't bridge the Muslim world to the U.S. for one simple reason ... she's not really Muslim.

We spoke with Noor Tagouri, who appeared in Playboy's October issue -- fully clothed -- and she had her own take on Gigi's veiled cover shot for Vogue Arabia. Unlike Tommy Hilfiger, who thinks Gigi could be an ambassador of sorts ... Noor's not willing to put that kinda pressure on the model.

Yes, Gigi is half Palestinian, and she marched against Trump's Muslim ban and she has millions of social media followers -- but Noor says that hardly makes her a revolutionary.

However, Noor -- who stars in the Newsy docu-series, "A Woman's Job" -- admits the supermodel could be a powerful voice ... IF she wants to be.

Your move, Gigi.

Zak Bagans just scored the scariest piece of memorabilia to add to his twisted collection -- the original dybbuk box that inspired the movie "The Possession."

The "Ghost Adventures" star tells TMZ he bought the wine cabinet allegedly haunted by a dybbuk -- a restless, evil spirit that can possess the living ... if you're a believer like Zak. He says he bought it from the guys who lent its evil backstory to the 2012 horror film.

The dybbuk -- Yiddish for malicious spirit -- is commonly known as the "world's most haunted object" -- which explains why Zak paid tens of thousands of dollars for it.

We're told he plans to showcase it at his Haunted Museum in Las Vegas, but will NOT display it opened ... he's genuinely too terrified to do that. You'll have to be over 18 and sign a waiver just to view it.

Bagans is already the owner of Michael Jackson's Propofol chair and Dr. Kevorkian's death mobile.

Danny Masterson strenuously denies old rape allegations against him ... and he's claiming Leah Remini played a part in the cases coming to light.

A rep for the "That '70s Show" star tells TMZ ... they're aware of 16-year-old allegations made by one of Danny's ex-girlfriends, and 2 other women. The ex went to police, and we've confirmed there is an open investigation. That investigation was the subject of a blog post accusing the Church of Scientology of covering up multiple rape claims.

Danny's calling BS and says Leah is just trying to boost ratings for her show, 'Scientology and the Aftermath.' Danny's rep claims Leah spoke to the ex-girlfriend, and after Leah's show aired ... the other 2 women contacted Leah too.

The rep goes on to say, "The alleged incident occurred in the middle of their 6 year relationship, after which she continued to be his longtime girlfriend."

Danny's rep also says the woman continued to pursue him after he ended the relationship.

He believes the case has no merit. We've reached out to Leah's camp, but nothing back yet.

Here's your Tim Tebow inspirational moment of the day.

Tim was giving a news conference at the Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie when he was asked how he balances his career as a pro athlete with the crazy hours he puts into his charity work.

Tebow responds by putting his entire life into perspective -- saying straight-up he doesn't want to be remembered for his accomplishments as an athlete.

"At the end of the day, I know that's not why I'm here ... it's not my biggest purpose, it's not my biggest calling. It's not how I want to be known in my life."

"I want my life to be so much more than that. I want to be someone that was known for bringing faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need."

"And that is something that is a life calling for me so it's so much bigger than sports."

Muhammad Ali Jr. was detained for 2 hours at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport ... and he's ready to sue because he thinks it's because he's Muslim.

Ali Jr.'s spokesman, Chris Mancini, tells TMZ ... his client was returning from Jamaica with his mother, Khalilah Ali -- Ali's first wife -- on February 7 when immigration officers stopped them. She got through, but he was taken to a small room for 2 hours and questioned.

Mancini says Ali's 44-year-old son was asked twice if he's Muslim, and also where he got his name. He was traveling on a U.S. Passport.

Ali Jr. is looking into suing the U.S. Treasury and Homeland Security over the incident. Mancini believes it hints at a larger issue of profiling and discrimination. He's interested in filing the lawsuit as a class action.

Bella and Gigi Hadid joined the chorus of protesters in NYC Sunday, voicing their contempt for President Trump's anti-Muslim ban.

The 2 models were out on the street ... Bella holding a sign that read, "We are all humans", as Gigi chanted, "No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here."

One of the dozens of detainees at LAX -- held since Donald Trump's "Muslim ban" went into effect -- is a Croatian citizen, according to the ACLU ... which is odd because Croatia is NOT one of the 7 banned countries.

Sources connected to the ACLU, who are on the ground at LAX, tell TMZ the Croatian woman flew into LAX from Paris this weekend. We're told she was forced to sign docs surrendering her tourist visitor's visa to enter the U.S. ... and she is set to be flown back to Paris.

As we reported ... immigrants at LAX who've been detained are being coerced to sign over their visas and green cards, as well as being sent back to their home countries.

At this point, it's unclear why the Croatian citizen is being detained by Customs and Border Protection. We've reached out to national headquarters ... but no one's picking up.

The woman's detention is also puzzling because a federal judge issued a temporary stay of Trump's ban ... for anyone traveling with a valid visa, and we're told this woman was.

Meanwhile ... attorneys are currently at LAX offering free legal services to detainees and their families. Protests continue outside the airport.

At least 5 Muslims were sent packing back to Yemen early Sunday morning from LAX, after Customs and Border Protection officials strong-armed them into signing a document to essentially wave the white flag and agree to go back to their homeland ... this according to the ACLU.

An ACLU attorney on the front lines tells TMZ ... the detainees were not allowed representation by attorneys who were eager to help them.

The attorney also says the number of detainees at LAX "far exceeds" the 7 people reported. We're told the number is closer to 40 people ... as of 1 AM Sunday morning.

Ivanka Trump and hubby Jared Kushner got special permission from a rabbi to break from Orthodox Jewish laws that ban use of technology -- like cars -- on the very night they're celebrating Donald Trump's inauguration.

As you might know, the day of rest for Jews -- or the Sabbath -- begins at sundown Friday until sundown Saturday. During that time traveling by car is not allowed for followers of Orthodox doctrine.

But Ivanka and Jared got a pass for their own safety, as the rule of pikuach nefesh overrides other commandments in the Torah.

The pastor taking part in Donald Trump's swearing-in ceremony isn't fazed by the haters, because when it comes down to it, it's an order from the Man above.

Bishop Wayne T. Jackson of Great Faith Ministries International in Detroit tells TMZ ... helping with readings and giving the benediction at Friday's ceremony isn't about Democrats or Republicans.

The Bishop's pretty clear -- he's answering a calling bigger than he can imagine.

It's not the first time the Bishop's heard rumblings -- he got the same treatment when he hosted Trump at the church back in September.

When Dylann Roof is executed, the son of slain Rev. Daniel Simmons wants to bear witness -- but not out of vengeance.

Daniel Simmons Jr. tells TMZ he and other members of the Charleston church were relieved by the jury's guilty verdict and decision to give Roof the death penalty -- but he's still waiting to see an ounce of remorse.

Simmons says he will absolutely attend Roof's execution by lethal injection ... in hopes the killer experiences God's forgiveness in the moments before he dies.

Simmons' father was one of the 9 victims Roof shot in cold blood inside Emanuel AME Church -- so, the amount of restraint and grace he shows here is extraordinary.

The Church of Scientology has gone on the attack against A&E, alleging a glaring double standard by cancelling "Generation KKK" but touting its Leah Remini anti-Scientology program.

TMZ obtained a letter Scientology's lawyer fired off to A&E, in which it scoffs at the network's decision to pull the plug on the 'KKK' show because producers paid some of the Klan members money. A&E said it was a direct violation of its policies to pay the subjects of a documentary.

The Scientology lawyer counters in the letter, "Church of Scientology understands that two on-air accusers/participants in Leah Remini's docuseries, "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath" received substantial cash payments for their participation, in violation of the same standards."

The letter goes on to essentially accuse A&E of becoming partners in Remini's show, giving them "free advertising and promotion for anti-Scientology books they have published."

And the lawyer says, "It is hypocritical for A&E to proclaim its intent to 'expose and combat racism and hatred in all its forms' in cancelling the KKK show and at the same time promote Leah Remini's program which promotes hatred that A&E claims that it wants to stop."

An official at A&E tells us there's a difference in the 2 shows because Remini is an executive producer on her show and she's "not the member of a hate group."

We reached out to Remini's rep but so far, no word back.

Tim Tebow is an awesome dude ... he prays for everyone, but sometimes he talks sports with God.

Tim was flying out of LAX when our photog asked a great question ... whether he sometimes asks the Almighty for a connection -- with his bat.

Montell Jordan says Kanye West needs a real God in his life ... and he's willing to take him under his wing to show him how to properly reach the man upstairs.

We got the singer-turned-pastor at LAX, where he extended his best wishes for 'Ye amid a mental breakdown that he says can happen to the best in the music biz.

Even Pope Francis is jumping on the Chicago Cubs bandwagon -- flossin' his brand new Cubbies hat and signed ball ... AT THE VATICAN!

His Popeness was pope'in around with Archbishop Blase J. Cupich -- the Archbishop of Chicago -- who came bearing some baseball-themed gifts.

So long, curse!

Mariah Carey was ordered out of the house she was sharing with billionaire James Packer, but she's staying put and demanding that he buy her an L.A. mansion as PART of a settlement in what has become a nasty breakup ... so say sources connected to Mariah.

Our Mariah sources say she doesn't blame the breakup on James ... she blames it on famed, former Scientology bigwig Tommy Davis ... who worked closely with Tom Cruise until Davis broke from the org.

Mariah believes Davis has had an extreme influence on Packer, whom they say has not been himself since Davis got in his ear. Our Mariah sources believe Davis poisoned the relationship, complaining to Packer he was spending an exorbitant amount on lavish gifts for her.

Other sources tell us Packer brought Davis in partially to help curb wasteful spending, and he immediately ID'd gifts to Mariah as prime examples. BTW, Davis played a similar senior role as Chief of Staff for Tom Barrack's private equity firm, Colony Capital. This situation became a very contentious thing between Davis and Mariah's manager, Stella.

One source pointed out that Mariah has a multi-million dollar home in NY.

As we reported, Mariah said peace out after an alleged incident on a yacht in Greece between James and her assistant. Our sources say when she returned, she was ordered out of their Beverly Hills home, but she refused.

TMZ broke the story ... Mariah is demanding $50 mil from Packer, partly because she uprooted her family to be with him in L.A. and partly because the breakup left her so distraught she had to cancel a leg of her tour.

We're told part of Mariah's demand is that Packer buy her a home in L.A.

Our sources say Packer is expected to respond to Mariah's demand Monday.