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.
Monogamy: Who needs it?
(CNN) — Humans don’t always remain faithful to just one mate for life, but many — at least theoretically — subscribe to the idea of monogamy. By Elizabeth Landau, CNN […]
Bradley Manning acquitted of aiding the enemy for giving secrets to WikiLeaks
Bradley Manning, the 25-year-old Army private who gave thousands of classified U.S. military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks, was acquitted of aiding the enemy in a military court martial, but […]
Egyptian violence was a massacre, not a ‘post-revolution transition’
Sisi realises Egypt’s relations with Israel are far more important than any coup by Robert Fisk, The Independent, UK What has happened to Egypt? The dead are being called “terrorists”, […]
Buddhist-Muslim Conflict in Asia Rears its Ugly Head
This opinion piece argues that the current violence between Asian Muslims and Buddhists is not religiously motivated — i.e., the true causes are land disputes and aggressive nationalism. What to do then? Well, at a minimum the area’s governments might want to apply the rule of law equitably and ensure […]
Muslim lawmakers ask DepEd chief to review ‘no face veil’ policy in classes
By Leila B. Salaverria Philippine Daily Inquirer MANILA, Philippines—Muslim lawmakers are asking Education Secretary Armin Luistro to reconsider his directive requesting Muslim public schoolteachers not to wear their face veils in the classroom, so as not to unduly interfere with their beliefs, religion, and culture. The lawmakers said in a […]
Anti-Muslim violence: A wakeup call for European governments
BY MARWAN MUHAMMAD, ELSA RAY AND MICHAËL PRIVOT BRUSSELS – A police check of a Muslim woman wearing the full-face veil recently sparked riots in a Paris suburb, and has […]
Economic Slowdown Is Expected, but It’s Seen as Fleeting
It can only get better from here — or at least that’s what economists hope. New data from the government due out Wednesday is expected to show that the economy came close to stalling during the spring quarter, which ran from April through June. But many experts say the latest […]
‘One year after Zaatari opened, no end in sight to refugee crisis’
by Khetam Malkawi 29 July 2013 Jordan Times AMMAN — One year after the official opening of the Zaatari Refugee Camp in the northern Governorate of Mafraq, relief organisations see […]
EU foreign policy chief visits Egypt’s Morsi
STORY SUMMARY EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton held two hours of talks with Egypt’s deposed president Mohammad Morsi, in custody since shortly after the July 3 coup, her spokeswoman […]
Jordan deserves more Arab attention — Asharq Alawsat
by JT | Jul 29, 2013 | 23:24 AMMAN — Asharq Alawsat, the Britain-based Arabic newspaper, published an editorial on Monday hailing the ability of Jordan to remain a pillar […]
King Abdullah Project produces 48 million cans of Zamzam water
RIYADH: ARAB NEWS Tuesday 30 July 2013 The King Abdullah bin Abdualziz Zamzam Water Project has produced more than 48 million cans of Zamzam water since its inception, meeting growing […]
Reuniting Pakistan’s lost children with their families
The BBC’s M Ilyas Khan reports on the work of a Pakistani organisation which helps to reunite missing children with their relatives – and helps a lost boy find his […]
Britain to get cash bonds for visas from 6 states
LAGOS, Nigeria — The British Home Office confirms it will demand a 3,000-pound ($4,350) refundable bond for visas for “high-risk” visitors from six former colonies in Africa and Asia. A […]
Jordan will exert all efforts to protect Jerusalem — King
AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday said the Kingdom will continue its efforts to safeguard Islamic and Christian sites in the holy city of Jerusalem, support the steadfastness […]
Early allocation of Mina tents to ease Haj
JEDDAH: ARAB NEWS Monday 29 July 2013 Tents in Mina will be allocated to Tawafa organizations and domestic pilgrim agencies several days before the beginning of Haj this year, Haj […]
Jeddah residents break Ramadan traditions
JEDDAH: SARAH ABDULLAH Monday 29 July 2013 Ramadan traditions among Jeddah residents usually include the family getting together in the kitchen to cook traditional dishes such as samboosak, soups and other popular food items. However, this year the tradition has been broken, with many families opting to get out of […]
Global Arms Markets as Seen Through the Syrian Lens
Security Weekly THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2013 Stratfor By Scott Stewart The many and diverse efforts to arm the various actors in the Syrian civil war are really quite amazing to watch. These efforts are also quite hard to decipher — and intentionally so — since many of the arms transfers […]
Israeli defense exports hit record high
Official: Israel has technological solution to the Russian made S-300 air defense system, which may be sold soon to Syria. By YAAKOV LAPPIN The Jerusalem Post Israel sold some $7.5 […]
Analysis: US stand on Egypt ‘coup’ may have costs
style kasa.com Published : Saturday, 27 Jul 2013, 11:35 AM MDT WASHINGTON (AP) — For decades, foreign armies that received U.S. assistance were on notice that toppling their freely elected civilian leaders would mean an aid suspension. After Egypt, that seems no more, despite a law requiring just that if […]