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.

Two cheers for human rights

Source: BBC Human rights are important, but they will never be a solution to ending conflict, writes John Gray. When we hear reports of nightmarish atrocities being committed in Syria, it’s easy to respond by thinking these horrors could be prevented if only the country had a government that respected […]

Questions to ask for New Year

Source: CNN So I invite you, whatever your stage of life, to explore these questions. Ask them of yourself. Talk with family and friends about them. Write and share your reflections. Feel free to adapt and revise the questions to suit your circumstances. And let us know on Twitter what the experience […]

Tourist trips to the Moon by 2043?

Source: CNN (CNN) — Imagine the delight at unwrapping your Christmas present in 2043 and discovering you’ve been gifted a trip around the Moon. It may seem a little far-fetched right now but it could become a reality if space companies like Virgin Galactic realize their aspirations over the next 30 years or […]

A Murder in Makkah

Source: Dawn. The authorities at the Saudi Hospital where they finally found him said they had found his body in a rubbish heap near an industrial area in Arafat. The young Pakistani men who had been looking everywhere for him since his disappearance a day or so ago did not […]

When in Delhi

Source: Dawn Finally, Delhi is going to have a government by the Aam Aadmi Party with outside support of the Congress. But the government formation has turned out to be primarily an exercise by the three protagonists — the AAP, the BJP and the Congress — in calling one another’s […]

S. Sudan govt ‘ready for truce’

JUBA: South Sudan’s government has agreed to an immediate cease-fire after nearly two weeks of heavy fighting with rebels, East African leaders announced Friday. They also gave Machar and President Salva Kiir four days to hold face-to-face talks and halt fighting, pledging unspecified “further action” if the civil war continued. […]

Pakistan's State of Denial

Source: NY Times Op-ED By TAHMIMA ANAM DHAKA, Bangladesh — It was a Pakistani journalist, Anthony Mascarenhas, who gave the world the first detailed account of Bangladesh’s war of independence. In April 1971, soon after the army of Pakistan started suppressing the secessionist movement in what was then still the eastern […]

Elements in judiciary, establishment conspired against PPP in May 11 poll: Bilawal

Credit: The Express Tribune By Ferya Ilyas / Ali Sidiki Published: December 27, 2013 “All of Benazir’s children will come into politics by the next elections,” says Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. PHOTO: PPP MEDIA CELL GARHI KHUDA BUX: Former president Asif Ali Zardari did what everyone thought was impossible; he ensured the smooth transition of […]

“STORY OF LAND OF PERSECUTION”

Posted on December 25, 2013 by misbah24 SOURCE: “There happen to be a land full of peace and prosperity, filled with love and blossoming flowers of brotherhood. But sudden dense clouds of persecution took all over the atmosphere and then hailstorm of hatred destroyed the peace leaving all around the […]