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.

Saudi-backed Jarba to lead Syrian opposition

ISTANBUL/BEIRUT — Syria’s fractious opposition elected a new leader on Saturday but rebel groups were reported to be fighting among themselves in a sign of growing divisions on the ground between factions trying to topple President Bashar Assad. The Syrian National Coalition chose Ahmad Jarba as its president after a […]

Will Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood survive?

Source: CNN (CNN) — In a stunning reversal of fortunes, Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsy was deposed by a military coup just one year after being sworn in as president. The Egyptian protesters who took to the streets by the millions over the past several days to demand Morsy’s resignation were jubilant […]

Islam, Egypt and political theory

Source: The Economist ON the face of things, this week’s events in Egypt have validated a theory about Islam and society that seemed contrarian when it was first floated. In 1992 a French analyst of the Muslim world, Olivier Roy, published a book entitled “L’échec de l’Islam politique“—translated into English […]

Lahore bomb blast kills three, injures 40

Source: ET LAHORE: A powerful bomb went off at took place at the food street in the old Anarkali area of Lahore, killing at least three people and injuring 40 others, Express News reported. According to Express News correspondent Nauman Shaikh, the explosion took place at the ground floor of a three storied restaurant. “Civil […]

ElBaradei to become Egyptian new prime minister

Source: TOI CAIRO: Liberal opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei has been chosen as Egypt’s new prime minister, the Tamarod campaign behind the protests that toppled Islamist president Mohamed Morsi said on Saturday after talks with the country’s interim president. A military source confirmed to AFP that the former UN nuclear watchdog chief was to […]

Coptic priest shot dead in Egypt attack

Source: TOI CAIRO: Gunmen shot dead a Coptic Christian priest in Egypt’s lawless Northern Sinai on Saturday in what could be the first sectarian attack since the military overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, security sources said. The shooting in the coastal city of El Arish was one of several attacks believed […]