Syria in-depth analysis: Where the anti-Assad coalition went wrong
We don’t know what will come out of Geneva II, the US and Russian backed conference for a political solution to the Syrian crisis. But it is forcing rhetorical and […]
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.
Another view: First mosque in Switzerland celebrates its 50th anniversary
The Mahmood Mosque in the city’s Forchstrasse is celebrating its 50th anniversary this week and on Saturday it opened its doors to the public with guided tours on offer. Indeed the mosque was the first ever to be built in Switzerland. The mosque was actually built at the instigation of […]
Striving for excellence in orphan care
JEDDAH: P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR ARABNEWS Friday 21 June 2013 JDT Islam in Marikkunnu, near Calicut, is one the renowned orphanages in South India. It extends outstanding services to orphans and […]
Tourism minister back after Luxor governor quits
Agence France Presse ARABNEWS Tuesday 25 June 2013 CAIRO: Egypt’s Tourism Minister Hesham Zazou was back at work yesterday after the newly appointed governor of Luxor quit following an outcry […]
Standing up for the Ahmadis
Source Daily Times via Nasim Malik of Sweden Incidentally, marginalising the Ahmadis has not proved good for Pakistan. Realising their potential, Pakistan’s early leaders made good use of their services. Jinnah made Zafrullah Khan the country’s first foreign minister and later governments made him the permanent representative of Pakistan to […]
Brain Child of Dr Salam
Source: ET via Wasim Sr The summer college, which was the brainchild of Dr Abdus Salam, Pakistan’s only Nobel laureate, is organised every year since 1976 by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). “Dr Salam used to assign two different projects to the local scientists, one applied and one formal, […]
Two burka-wearing women attacked near Paris
Rfi France. Several hundred residents of a working-class town near Paris took to the streets on Saturday in protest at two alleged Islamophobic attacks on young women wearing face-covering veils. Police have opened inquiries but not accepted that the assaults were hate crimes, according to lawyers. Up to 1,000 people […]
Robert Fisk: The three things that always accompany occupation
Torture by masters who claim the moral high ground, declarations they’ve won their war despite being in retreat, and insistence on a dignified exit after negotiation On 20th November 2001, in the Afghan embassy in Islamabad, the Taliban stamped into my passport their very last visa, number 001518, valid only […]
The Palestinians’ last option: A struggle for equal rights Palestinians must shed the illusion of the current peace process and at least push for equitable rights.
Ghada Karmi ALJAZEERA.COM Palestinians must dissolve the PA and demand the same rights as Israeli citizens, writes Ghada Karmi [Getty] Once upon a time, Palestine was the Arab world’s unifying […]
Mice games reveal why we sell out our morals
Source: The Local A German economist has worked out how a cheap deal can make people ignore their personal convictions – and says his study debunks the idea that market forces can iron out unethical practices. More:
Secret Desert Force Set Up by Blackwater’s Founder
This is an old article, just to remind the readers what is happening ‘behind the scenes’. This secret army hardly gets into the News. By MARK MAZZETTI and EMILY B. HAGER Published: May 14, 2011 Correction Appended ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Late one night last November, a plane […]
Qatar readies new leadership, little policy change expected
By William Maclean and Sami Aboudi DUBAI (Reuters) – Qatar appeared on Monday to be preparing its population for new leadership that could see the emir and prime minister step down, a step analysts say would not herald big changes in energy, investment or foreign policies. The Gulf Arab state […]
Pervez Musharraf’s Ridiculous Return to Pakistan
BY ISAAC CHOTINER NEW REPUBLIC 24th April 2013 (This article is from April, however the question why Musharraf returned is as acute as ever). If Pervez Musharraf exists at all […]
Ghana: Wildaf Calls On Gov to Recognise Muslim Marriages
A Pan-African non-governmental not-for profit women’s rights network, Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) has called on the government to ensure the registration of Muslim marriages, while has embarked on a nine month project to create awareness about the need for Islamic marriages in the country to be […]
Syria says rebels would take years to match army’s strength
June 24, 2013 – 13:31 Reuters Swissinfo BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syria’s foreign minister said on Monday that a decision by Western and Arab countries to arm the rebels posed a danger to peace talks and would prolong the two-year conflict. Walid al-Moualem told a news conference in Damascus that the […]
Government to initiate high treason case against Musharraf: Sharif
Credit: The Express Tribune By Ferya Ilyas / Reuters Published: June 24, 2013 ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to initiate a high treason case against former military dictator Pervez Musharraf for subverting the […]
That was about 12:30 pm Hong Kong time. Our man in Quito
Source: Asia Times: By Pepe Escobar HONG KONG – So it’s going to be Our Man in Quito. The narrative may not be as elegant as Graham Greene’s, but the plot certainly beats the Bourne trilogy – because it’s happening live, in real time, right in front of our eyes. […]
Today (24.06.2013) Khalifa of Islam to inaugurate a new Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosque as well to lay foundation stone for another Mosque in Germany.
By Zubair Khan Pictures: Farzan Khan, National Secretary AMJ Germany. It is a great honour for Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Germany to have its supreme head in the country. Khalifa of Islam arrived Germany on 22.06.2013. In a very colourful and emotional ceremony the community members welcomed their beloved Imam. […]
Immigration bill could break US into ‘two countries’
Source: Conservative Papers: On Andrea Tantaros radio show last week, conservative columnist and author Pat Buchanan warned of an unintended consequence of the immigration reform bill, a bill which doesn’t place a high priority on assimilation. According to Tantaros, her previous guest, former New York Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey, said that the immigration legislation funnels […]
Nanga Parbat assault: Tragedy in Himalayas
Credit: The Express Tribune By Shabbir Mir / Creative: Samra Aamir Published: June 24, 2013 GILGIT: Gunmen overran a mountaineering base camp and shot dead foreign trekkers who were resting during a climb up one […]