Rafiq A. Tschannen is a Swiss national. He converted to Islam and joined the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community at the age of 16 after reading the German translation of the Holy Qur'an. He worked in 15 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean, first as Finance Director in the private industry and later as Chief Executive Officer of NGOs and International Governmental Organizations. He is now devoting his time to The Muslim Times as Editor for Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Switzerland and as Associate Chief Editor.
Diplomats in Middle East say issues cannot easily be resolved partly because they are personal as well as political Qatari takes a photo during the inaugural signing of a wall bearing a portrait of Qatar’s emir, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Photograph: STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images Randeep Ramesh Friday 21 July 2017 […]
Children’s book illustrator Ehsan Abdollahi says Kafkaesque reasons given for refusal Ehsan Abdollahi has got no right of appeal to contest denial of a visa for Britain. Photograph: Handout Saeed Kamali Dehghan Iran correspondent Friday 21 July 2017 An acclaimed Iranian illustrator has been denied a visa to […]
Our emotional attachment to the EU allows memories of backpacking holidays and friendships and new family links to obscure a cold analysis of the broader national interest Sean O’Grady @_seanogrady Sean O’Grady @_seanogrady A fond memory of beach holidays in Europe shouldn’t be a reason to make economic decisions Shutterstock Leaving […]
Reuters International JULY 20, 2017 FILE PHOTO: Kurdish Regional Government President Masoud Barzani speaks to the media during his visits in the town of Bashiqa, after it was recaptured from the Islamic State, east of Mosul, Iraq, November 16, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (reuters_tickers) By Angus MacSwan ERBIL, Iraq […]
Reuters International JULY 21, 2017 Palestinians react following tear gas that was shot by Israeli forces after Friday prayer on a street outside Jerusalem’s Old city July 21, 2017. REUTERS/Ammar Awad (reuters_tickers) JERUSALEM (Reuters) – When Muslim elders called for a “Day of Rage” on Friday to protest […]
Reuters International JULY 22, 2017 Iraqis cross the floating bridge between east and west of Mosul, Iraq, July 21, 2017. REUTERS/Khalid Al-Mousily (reuters_tickers) By Angus MacSwan MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) – On a pontoon bridge connecting East and West Mosul, residents of a city shattered by the battle to […]
by Joe Vesey-Byrne in discover Data: WIN/Gallup International. PICTURE: INDY100/DATAWRAPPER 62 per cent of people on earth define themselves as religious. This is according to the WIN/Gallup International poll for 2016, published in mid 2017. The study surveyed citizens of 68 countries. In addition, many people held religious beliefs […]
DAILY SABAH WITH REUTERS ISTANBUL Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, finishes answering a question from the media while meeting with Oman’s Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Friday, July 21, 2017, at the State Department in Washington. (AP Photo) U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Friday the […]
ADAM GARRIE Iraq has become an ally of Syria in spite of the United States. A day after Baghdad confirmed the purchase and delivery of multiple T-90 tanks from Russia, Iraq’s Vice President Nouri al-Maliki has praised Russia for its vital role in the fight against terrorism. Although Russian forces […]
Non-combatants in the city found themselves in a catch-22: told by US-led Coalition forces to get away from Isis positions before they were shelled; yet threatened with execution by Isis if they tried to escape Patrick Cockburn Irbil, Iraq @4freepress The catastrophic number of civilian casualties in Mosul is receiving little […]
Islamic leaders call for mass protests in response to the new security measures Agency Israeli police have banned Muslim men under the age of 50 from al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. The ban comes ahead of feared mass protests over the installation of metal detectors aimed at increasing security at the site. Muslim […]
EGYPTIAN STREETS JULY 20, 2017 Archive photo of Israeli police forces in the old city of Jerusalem. REUTERS/Ammar Awad Clashes between Palestinians and Israeli Forces have been ongoing in Jerusalem since last Friday. The dispute started after the Israeli Forces had set metal detectors at entrances of Haram Al-Sharif, also known […]
EGYPTIAN STREETS FEBRUARY 13, 2017 In a sharp contradiction to what is common among Muslims, Khaled Al Gendy, a famous Islamic cleric and a member of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, stated that drinking liquor without getting drunk is not sinful. “If the same alcoholic drink was consumed by […]
Our unthinking characterisation of cancer as a ‘battle’ hands responsibility for recovery to the patient – and creates the notion that only the ‘strong’ or ‘deserving’ survive Anthony Wilson Glancing through Twitter this morning, I noticed a friend of a friend responding to Barack Obama’s tweet in support of Senator John McCain who […]
By Julie Hunt JULY 16, 2017 You have to be very patient if you want to become Swiss, or so says Valentin Cazacu, from Moldova. You must be resident in Switzerland for 12 years before you can apply, and it took him four years to complete the naturalisation process. […]
Theresa May’s attitude towards Saudi Arabia is to ignore the issues and claim – no matter how vague and illogical – that it’s to protect ‘national security’ Robert Fisk @indyvoices a day ago The PM refuses to comment on Saudi Arabia’s human rights violations Reuters Theresa May has oddly declined to […]
By Reuters – Jul 21,2017 – JORDAN TIMES Palestinians perform prayer near new metal detectors, outside one of the main entrances to Al Aqsa Mosque, refusing to enter because of the detectors installed by Israel, as the holy site reopened for the first time on Sunday since a two-day […]
By Reuters – Jul 21,2017 – JORDAN TIMES Syrian rebel fighters from the Faylaq Al Rahman brigade carry their homemade 12.7mm sniper rifle in Ain Tarma, in the eastern Ghouta area, a rebel stronghold east of the capital Damascus, on Tuesday (AFP photo) WASHINGTON — The Trump administration […]
Daesh families, Mosul displaced live side-by-side in Iraq camp By AFP – Jul 21,2017 – JORDAN TIMES A displaced Iraqi woman whose family members are accused of being Daesh militants sits under a tent at the Jadaa camp on the outskirts of Al Qayyarah, south of Mosul, on Wednesday […]
Jul 20,2017 – JORDAN TIMES – RAMI G. KHOURI Every few years, it seems the world of Middle East and global policy analysis passes through a phase when a basic question rears its head in the media and in conversations across the world: Is Islamism a dangerous trend of the […]