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.
Pakistan Double Cross on Terrorism
Source: You Tube via Wasim Sr. Click HERE to watch in Youtube
Pope criminalizes leaks, sex abuse in first laws
Source: TOI VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis has overhauled the laws that govern the Vatican City State, criminalizing leaks of Vatican information and specifically listing sexual violence, prostitution and possession of child pornography as crimes against children. More:
Bent on establishing a ferociously Islamist state
Source: The Economist: Secure the Sahara, if you can WHEN French troops planted their tan boots in the sands of Mali earlier this year, they faced not one but three problems in the west African nation. With the help of arms looted from Libyan depots, an alliance of Tuareg […]
What are we testing for?
Source: LUBP The prime minister said that the most recent carnage in Hazara Town is a “test case”. This is better than nothing. However, it makes one wonder what are we testing for? Testing for limits of human indifference to slaughter? What is the threshold that will make us snap? […]
Unveiled threats
Source: The Economist: IN SHANSHAN county in the western region of Xinjiang, efforts in May to promote “ethnic-harmony education month” were declared a success after official lecture teams delivered more than 100 speeches on the topic to 80,000, mostly Muslim, residents. On June 26th it became clear that their hard […]
A mixed bag
Source: The Economnist: THE fall of Muhammad Morsi in a military coup has prompted celebration in some quarters of the Arab and neighbouring Muslim world, mourning in others, and hesitation and confusion elsewhere. Moderate Islamist parties have denounced the coup while distancing themselves from Mr Morsi’s failings that provoked it. […]
Has the Temple Mount Become a Muslim Theme Park?
Source: The Conservative Papers. The Temple Mount, which is Judaism’s holiest location, has turned into a theme park for Muslim children in the course of the last month, according to Jewish activists. Temple Mount organizations are outraged at the “desecration” of Judaism’s holiest site, as Muslim authorities encourage ball games, among others, […]
Obama’s ‘zero option’ on AfPak is viable
Source: Asia Times: he Clausewitzean fog of war is thickening in the Hindu Kush. The New York Times reported over the weekend that President Barack Obama is seriously considering a “zero option” for Afghanistan, namely, a total pullout of American troops by end-2014 – lock, stock and barrel, as they […]
Influential perpetrators?: Prayer leader allegedly paraded naked
Source: ET A prayer leader who was allegedly paraded naked in Chohar Sharif village has blamed the police of siding with the accused men. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday after filing a complaint with the district police officer (DPO) of Haripur, Chan Muhammad Khan, 51, who is the prayer leader […]
Altaf Hussain under investigation by Police:
Source: ET LONDON: London Metropolitan Police said that an investigation is being carried out against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain on charges of money laundering and provocation to torture, BBC Urdu reported on Thursday. London Police wrote a written response to BBC Urdu Service, verifying the raids on Altaf Hussain’s residence […]
What the OBL report means for Pakistan
Source: ET It’s like May 2, 2011 all over again. Except that instead of missing pieces and details, there is a story to satiate your ghairat’s rabidly thirsty disbelief. Don’t be fooled by the faded A4 paper and plain typewriter font; this isn’t a US Navy Seal’s best-selling hardcover of the Osama bin Laden […]
You know someone who is gay, but do you know a polygamist?
Since the U.S. Supreme Court made largely favorable rulings for gay marriage last month, there has been hope in some quarters, even predictions, that polygamy is next. The thinking, by […]
Ramadan cannon was ‘born by chance’
JEDDAH: KHADIJA HABIB ARABNEWS Thursday 11 July 2013 It appears to have come about by accident that the Ramadan cannon is now emblematic of the ninth month of the Muslim […]
British public wrong about nearly everything, survey shows
Research shows public opinion often deviates from facts on key social issues including crime, benefit fraud and immigration JONATHAN PAIGE TUESDAY 09 JULY 2013 THE INDEPENDENT A new survey for the Royal Statistical Society and King’s College London shows public opinion is repeatedly off the mark on issues including crime, […]
Saudi princess accused of holding Kenyan servant captive in California
July 11, 2013 – 05:00 By Alex Dobuzinskis LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Prosecutors in Southern California charged a Saudi Arabian princess on Wednesday with human trafficking and accused her of bringing a Kenyan woman to the United States and holding her against her will as a servant. The accused woman, […]
Syria activists protest rebel siege of Aleppo districts
STORY SUMMARY Activists in Aleppo have held protests calling for the lifting of a rebel siege of regime-held districts of Syria’s second city that has created food shortages, activists said […]
World-class pilgrim city in Makkah soon
JEDDAH: P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR | ARAB NEWS STAFF Thursday 11 July 2013 A full-fledged pilgrim city with state-of-the-art facilities will be set up in Makkah, similar to the one planned […]
Jordan: Experimental pumping from Disi aquifer starts
by Hani Hazaimeh | Jul 10, 2013 | JORDAN TIMES Note by the Editor: Please forgive me for posting this News. It is of little interest to readers ‘soaked in […]
‘Qatar losing Mideast ground to Saudi Arabia‘ (and you thought there was a ‘Sunni-Shiah conflict’?)
AFP | Jul 10, 2013 | ARABNEWS DUBAI — Qatar, a key supporter of Islamists who rose to power in Arab Spring countries, is losing ground in regional politics to Saudi Arabia which appears to have seized the reins on key issues, notably Egypt and Syria. The decline in Qatar’s […]