Author Archives
Rafiq A. Tschannen
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.
History, Traditions and Observance of Muharram
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. On the first day of Muharram, the Islamic New Year is observed by Muslims. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year. Hence it is a little different from the Gregorian […]
The sacred month Muharram
September 29 2016 08:55 PM Muslims must fear Allah and take lessons from what Allah has told us in the Qur’an regarding the Prophets and Messengers of Allah and the previous nations. Allah said (which means): “Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for men of understanding. It (the […]
New UNHCR centre to pace up Afghan refugees return
September 29, 2016 Said Alam Khan PESHAWAR – The UNHCR has formally inaugurated its second Voluntary Repatriation Centre (VRC) at Azakhel in Nowshera district on Wednesday to facilitate safe and dignified return of Afghan refugees. The opening of new centre would enable UNHCR to facilitate return of up to […]
Iraq’s ”Peace Valley”- World’s largest cementery
y Reuters /Iraq Filed on September 28, 2016 (Reuters) The pace of daily burials rose to 150-200. The rate was 80-120 a day previously The world’s largest cemetery, in Iraq’s holy city of Najaf, is expanding at double its usual rate as they bury their dead from the war against […]
How We Could End the Permanent War State
by DAVID SWANSON My remarks are related to the problem of media as a factor in the war system but not focused primarily on that. I have experienced first hand as a journalist and as an author how the corporate news media hews to a set of well-delineated lines in […]
In escalation, India says launches strikes on militants in Pakistan
Reuters International SEP 29, 2016 – Indian army’s director general of military operations Lt General Ranbir Singh speaks during a media briefing in New Delhi, India, September 29, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer (reuters_tickers) By Sanjeev Miglani and Asad Hashim NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – India said on Thursday it had conducted “surgical strikes” […]
SAARC summit postponed after India-Pakistan rift
AGENCIES | Published — Thursday 29 September 2016 NO TO WAR: Pakistani activists condemn the rising tensions between Pakistan and India during a protest in Lahore on Wednesday. (AP) NEW DELHI: A key South Asian summit was postponed Wednesday after India and three other countries pulled out following a […]
Are India and Pakistan on the brink of a water war?
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said earlier this week that his nation may speed the construction of new hydropower plants along three rivers that flow into Pakistan – a move that would certainly be harmful for Pakistan. By Amanda Hoover, Staff SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 Save for later Danish Ismail/Reuters View […]
India-Pakistan tensions threaten South Asia summit
18 Indian soldiers killed in recent clashes in disputed Kashmir By AFP – Sep 28,2016 – JORDAN TIMES This file photo taken on November 27, 2014 shows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) point a finger at Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (right) during the closing session of the […]
UN head — no charisma required
Sep 28,2016 – JORDAN TIMES – Gwynne Dyer It is not an election, it is a selection. And although all the countries in the United Nations General Assembly have equal rights, some are more equal than others. Ban Ki-moon retires at the end of this year, and it is time for […]
Shimon Peres was no peacemaker. I’ll never forget the sight of pouring blood and burning bodies at Qana
Peres said the massacre came as a ‘bitter surprise’. It was a lie: the UN had repeatedly told Israel the camp was packed with refugees Robert Fisk @indyvoices The Israeli politician has died at 93, two weeks after suffering a major stroke AP When the world heard that Shimon Peres […]
While the world looks at Yemen: Palestinian families forced to raze their homes amid spike in Israeli-enforced demolitions
SEPT. 28, 2016 JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — Two Palestinian families in the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina were forced to demolish their own homes for being built without licenses on Wednesday, in order to avoid the expensive demolition fines imposed by the Jerusalem municipality when its employees carry out […]
Anti-blasphemy in the digital age: When hardliners take over
REPORT Joelle Fiss September 2016 DOWNLOAD Download the full report Given the rise of media and information technology, the debate over anti-blasphemy laws has become one of international importance. Cutting across different regions and faiths, blasphemy laws have triggered instability, empowered extremists, and increased sectarian violence. With frequently vague wording, they […]
How the middle of nowhere could become a major trade corridor
FUTURE DEVELOPMENT How the middle of nowhere could become a major trade corridor Lisa Kaestner and Wolfgang FenglerFriday, September 23, 2016 The middle of nowhere actually exists. If you look for the place that is furthest away from any ocean in the entire world, you will find yourself in in […]
Switzerland still world’s ‘most competitive’ nation
Switzerland: still enjoying the view from the top. File photo: Robert Boesch Published: 28 Sep 2016 Switzerland has shrugged off economic challenges to retain its crown as the world’s most competitive country, topping the World Economic Forum’s annual competitiveness ranking for the eighth consecutive year. Zurich named ‘greenest’ city on […]
Germany Boosts Security for Muslim Centers in Dresden After Mosque Bombing
By REUTERSSEPT. 28, 2016, 6:57 A.M. E.D.T. DRESDEN, Germany — German police are stepping up protection of Muslim institutions in Dresden after two improvised bombs exploded in the eastern city on Monday evening, one at a mosque and one at an international conference center. No one was hurt by the […]
New York City Is Taking Aim At Islamophobia
A new social media campaign is trying to fight discrimination against American Muslims. 09/27/2016 07:21 pm ET Ellen Wulfhorst NEW YORK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – New York City kicked off a social media advertising campaign on Monday to combat negative perceptions of Muslims and counteract increasing instances of threats and […]
Students May Soon Learn Even Less About Islam In Tennessee Public Schools
The revision comes after claims that schools are proselytizing for the faith. 09/27/2016 Antonia Blumberg Associate Religion Editor, The Huffington Post In a time of rising Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bias, the Tennessee State Board of Education is poised to approve new social studies standards for middle schoolers that would dramatically […]
JORDAN: Watchdog calls for removing charge on ‘defamation of religion’
By JT – Sep 27,2016 – JORDAN TIMES AMMAN — Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday called on Jordan to remove blasphemy charges from the Kingdom’s legislation in a statement condemning the murder of Jordanian writer Nahed Hattar. “Jordan’s new Cabinet should take immediate steps to introduce legislation to […]