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.
STORY SUMMARY The Swiss expert who examined samples of Yasser Arafat’s remains dismissed as a “political declaration” a statement Thursday by Russian researchers excluding radiation poisoning as the cause for the Palestinian leader’s death. Bochud criticised the Russians for not releasing their report. Some 60 samples were taken and divided […]
Summary Israel’s successful efforts to increase water security will lessen one of the country’s geographical constraints. But new sources of water are more energy intensive, and this could increase Israel’s short-term dependence on energy imports unless domestic energy sources are successfully developed. Analysis While Israel enjoys relative national security compared […]
BY ROBERT FISK, THE INDEPENDENT I always had a soft spot for old Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov, who died just before Christmas. When I met him, his Siberian eyes were as […]
Source: NY Times: BANGUI — Mariam watched in horror as militiamen burst through the gate of her home in Central African Republic’s capital Bangui and demanded her husband say whether he was Muslim. When he said yes, they shot him dead. More:
Bangkok, 25th December, 2013 Thai Ahmadi Muslims presented the book World Crises and the Pathway to Peace to the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand in its full board meeting along with other literature. It was a unique moment when the Chairperson invited the members of the […]
Source: NY Times: “Now it seems the situation has changed completely,” said Kerem Oktem, a Turkey expert and research fellow at the European Studies Center at the University of Oxford. “It seems the ring around Erdogan has gotten tighter.” Later, as a dramatic day came to a close, Mr. Erdogan […]
by Hugo Stamm on Tuesday the 17th December 2013 TAGESANZEIGER.CH The Christian churches are stuck in an identity crisis . Less than ten percent of the population regularly visit a church any more, not even half of the Swiss believe in a personal God, as represented by the Christian faith […]
OnIslam & Newspapers Thursday, 19 December 2013 00:00 CAIRO – A London bus driver has managed to save the life of a woman in labor, rushing her to the hospital […]
CHANDIGARH: Around 5,000 Pakistanis will cross over Punjab to participate in a three-day annual International Ahmadiyya Muslim Conference will be held at the Ahmadiyya Muslim headquarters in Qadian, Gurdaspur, beginning […]
AMMAN — The Orthodox Initiative, a nonprofit organisation based in Amman, is distributing winter aid to Syrian refugees in Jordan to celebrate Christmas this year, according to a statement issued by the organisation on Thursday. The initiative, which supports local churches hosting Syrian refugees, is distributing 800 winter jackets and […]
The Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation–Global, which is chaired by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, announced a SR2 million donation for the Syrian refugees to help them stay warm and dry in […]
GCC countries are planning to launch a European-style Schengen visa by mid-2014 to allow Gulf-based expats and foreign businessmen to move easily across the borders of the six-member bloc. The GCC interior ministers are working on the details of the project, which many believe will boost tourism and trade in […]
By Scott Stewart STRATFOR Editor’s Note: The following is the first installment of a five-part series examining the global jihadist movement. Part 2 analyzes insurgent and terrorist theory. Part 3 defines the jihadist movement and evaluates its various elements. Part 4 looks at franchises and grassroots jihadists and Part 5 […]
An Al-Qaeda faction in Syria is committing appalling atrocities in areas under its control, Amnesty International said in a report Wednesday that urged the group to end its “reign of […]
“In Islam, the Holy Quran offers explicit direction to share resources beyond one’s requirements, and to care for the poor and those in need.” These are the words of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, Aga Khan IV and spiritual leader of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, upon receiving the […]
In September, Zamboanga City in the Philippines was ravaged by an armed conflict between the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the local government. The battle created tension between local […]
By Nicola Abé, Matthias Gebauer and Anders Somme Hammer SPIEGEL.DE Berlin is under pressure following the murder of a former Afghan interpreter who worked for the German army. The Taliban […]
by Abdelhafidh Abdeleli, swissinfo.ch December 18, 2013 – 11:00 Iraq has seen a massive escalation in violence since April 2013, when 50 people were killed by Iraqi security forces at […]
December 19, 2013 12:13 AM The Daily Star STORY SUMMARY The differences between American and European policies on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict are often remarked on by analysts and politicians, who […]
December 18, 2013 12:23 AM By David Ignatius The Daily Star STORY SUMMARY Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that despite hitting a “snag” in nuclear negotiations last week, Iran was committed “100 percent” to reaching a comprehensive final agreement. Iranian concern was eased, Zarif said, after his contacts […]