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.
The King Abdullah International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, which is based in Vienna, has published a book highlighting its achievements, especially in promoting a culture of dialogue among […]
because, Einstein is reported to have said: ‘Men invented the atomic bomb. Mice would not invent a mouse trap’.
by Samuel Jaberg, swissinfo.ch November 16, 2013 – 17:00 Two French journalists were murdered in Kidal, Mali, just as Switzerland’s new special envoy to the region was arriving to start […]
While the Israelis have proven time and again that they flout international laws and UN resolutions, they mask their own quest for regional dominance by getting western powers to do their bidding By Tariq A. Al Maeena | Special to Gulf News Published: 20:00 November 16, 2013 I have occasionally […]
BANGKOK, Nov 15 – The next round of peace talks in December between Thai government security officials and Muslim insurgent groups in southern Thailand will include members of other movements rather than the Barisan Revolusi Nationsal (BRN), a senior official said today. Charoon Ampha, National Security Council (NSC) advisor, said […]
WASHINGTON (RNS) The highest-ranking Muslim in the British government on Friday (Nov. 15) called on Western governments to do more to protect besieged Christian minorities across the world, particularly in […]
By Greg Smith and Alan Cooperman Pew Research Center American Jews have been debating the impact of intermarriage for decades. Does intermarriage lead to assimilation and weaken the Jewish community? Or is it a way for a religion that traditionally does not seek converts to bring new people into the […]
Source: Gulf News Sharjah: An Austria-based publishing company selling exact replicas of rare texts including a 24-carat golden Quran is one of the highlights of this year’s Sharjah International Book Fair. Produced on special order, each page of the golden Quran is made from fine gold and copies are being […]
By JAMES BARRON Published: November 15, 2013 David N. Redden recited the opening of the 23rd Psalm the way he had memorized it as a child: “The Lord is my […]
Source: Asia Times: “God” was the label stuck on Tendulkar during his 24 years of test cricket during much of which he was the world’s leading batsman, and one of the biggest success stories the past 50 years. And despite retiring amid recent struggles to get runs, and failing in […]
Source: ET You may belong to any religion caste or creed — that has nothing to do with the business of the state. “In due course of time, Hindus will cease to be Hindus and Muslims will cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal […]
Source NY Times: MADRID — Alba Méndez, a 24-year-old with a master’s degree in sociology, sprang out of bed nervously one recent morning, carefully put on makeup and styled her hair. Her thin hands trembled as she clutched her résumé on her way out of the tiny room where a […]
Source: NY Times. DETROIT — After a two-week investigation, the prosecutor here charged a white suburban homeowner on Friday with second-degree murder in the killing of an unarmed young black woman. The prosecutor rejected the man’s assertion that he had been acting in self-defense when he opened his front door […]
For centuries, the Malay royal title “Datuk”— Malaysia’s equivalent of “Sir” — was a high honor that unlocked doors to the elite. But Datuks like K. Basil don’t feel so […]
Once again, the fate of Gaza is gaining importance as the failure of Palestinian reconciliation, coupled with the deep rift between Hamas and the new Egyptian rulers, is being felt […]
Could we ever have imagined, two and a half years ago, that we would witness the idolisation of General Abdul Fattah al-Sisi? BY ROBERT FISK, THE INDEPENDENT Perhaps Egypt does […]
Prime Minister says terrorists defamed peace-loving Islam November 15, 2013 – Updated 728 PKT From Web Edition ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said the terrorists defamed Islam, which is a religion of peace, and lamented that innocent citizens are being subjected to extreme brutality. The prime minister said […]
The planned construction of a mosque in Leipzig provides explosive discussions. A citizens’ initiative was formed against the project. Pastor Wolff demands clear words from the politicians in favour of […]
Source: Daily Bild via Adeel of Germany. On Thursday, 14.11.2013 at about 11.00 clocks in the night fire rages for Georg Schumann road. Where is soon to be the first German Central mosque with minarets, The Ahmadiyya Muslim community Germany plans on the site in Gohlis to build a mosque […]
Source: The Independent via Wasim Sr: Pope Francis’s life is in danger from ‘ndrangheta, Italy’s most feared crime group, a leading anti-mafia judge has claimed. Nicola Gratteri, a magistrate in the southern city of Reggio Calabria, near ‘ndrangheta’s heartland, has said the Pontiff’s crackdown on financial corruption in the Vatican, […]