Syria’s other war: intra-rebel skirmishes
ALEPPO, Syria — The gash on Abu Ahmed’s face has almost healed but the troubling memory of Syrian rebels thrashing him with rifle butts evokes fear of another looming war: […]
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.
The rise of the African continent
ALSIR SIDAHMED ARABNEWS Wednesday 1 May 2013 SOMETHING is happening in nearby Africa that the Middle East region, currently at a crossroads, needs to take note of it. A combination of improved political and economic conditions is painting a new image and sowing the seeds of hope for a better […]
Brahimi to quit as Syria peace envoy: diplomats
STORY SUMMARY UN-Arab League Syria peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is on the verge of quitting amid growing frustration at deadlocked international efforts to end the worsening conflict, diplomats said Wednesday. […]
Controversial Sheikh romps to AFC presidency (Asian Football Confederation)
May 02, 2013 09:10 AM (Last updated: May 02, 2013 10:19 AM) By Talek Harris STORY SUMMARY Bahrain royal Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa promised a new era of […]
Model Kendra Spears Engaged to a Shi’a Prince
Model Kendra Spears Engaged to a Shi’a Prince by Misty White Sidell Apr 30, 2013 3:14 PM EDT The onetime Prada campaign girl will likely convert to Islam to marry the eldest son of the Aga Khan. By Misty White Sidell The official engagement portrait of Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Seattle-born model Kendra […]
Fed Holds Stimulus Steady, Citing ‘Moderate’ Growth
WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve said on Wednesday that it would continue its stimulus campaign at the same pace it has maintained since December, neither increasing nor slackening its efforts, just as investors had expected. The Fed said the economy was expanding at a “moderate pace” and that the labor […]
Potential Role for Traditional Muslim Leaders to Counter Boko Haram
by Guest Blogger for John Campbell Counsel on Foreign Relations This is a guest post by Jacob Zenn, an analyst of African Affairs for the Washington D.C. based think tank, […]
PEW Report: Muslims back Islamic law, disagree on meaning
Source: USA Today By Cathy Lynn Grossman Devotion to Islam shapes the lives of most Muslims but their views on democracy, religious law known as sharia, and family life are varied, a new study finds. The research report on Muslim views on religion, politics and society was released Tuesday by The […]
Bangladesh risks losing EU market access
Source: CNN Money By Charles Riley Bangladesh must make its factories safer or risk the loss of privileged access to the country’s biggest market after a building collapse killed hundreds of garment industry workers. The warning from the European Union is the latest sign that governments and retailers are […]
(No low age for marriage, but:) FDA lowers age for buyers of Plan B pill to 15 (‘morning after pill’)
In a surprise twist to the decade-plus effort to ease access to morning-after pills, the government is lowering the age limit to 15 for one brand – Plan B One-Step […]
They may be fighting for Syria, not Assad. They may also be winning: Robert Fisk reports from inside Syria
Death stalks the Syrian regime just as it does the rebels. But on the front line of the war, the regime’s army is in no mood to surrender – and claims it doesn’t need chemical weapons Clouds hang oppressively low over the Syrian army’s front-line mountain-top in the far north […]
Robert Fisk: Assad sends his feared militia squads to the battlefront
Syria’s ‘ghost’ soldiers have been accused of torturing and killing civilians. Soon they will be controlling newly captured towns, reports our Middle East correspondent In a decision that is certain to arouse fear among the regime’s enemies, the Syrian government has decreed that thousands of volunteers loyal to President Bashar […]
U.S. hypocrisy
STORY SUMMARY In the two long years since the Syrian conflict erupted, the United States has unwittingly revealed much about its foreign policy preoccupations and motives, all of which point to a nation losing its superpower status and its reputation as the world’s policeman. It is depressingly easy to deduce […]
Most Muslims want Shariah law, split on interpretation: study
FABIENNE FAUR | AFP ARABNEWS Wednesday 1 May 2013 WASHINGTON: A majority of Muslims around the world want Shariah law to be implemented in their countries but are split on how it should be applied, […]
WORD IN THE NEWS: JIHAD
By Michael Lokesson · National Geographic News · Published April 30, 2013 The Boston marathon bombing has focused attention on the word “jihad.” Vice President Biden characterized the alleged bombers as knockoff jihadis.” The Associated Press reported that the elder brother had “vaguely discussed jihad” with his mother over the […]
Gay player story turns into discussion on Bible
by Michael Foust Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) — An NBA player Monday (April 29) made history by becoming the first player from a major American team sport to declare he’s […]
Ahmadiyyas underscore moderation, harmony
Source: www.indiannewslink.co.nz The Ahmadiyya Muslim community in New Zealand received kudos from a number of political and community leaders and officials at the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Auckland based Ahmadiyya Muslim […]
Islam, Universal Human Rights, and Cairo Declaration
Epigraph: Permission to fight is given to those against whom war is made, because they have been wronged — and Allah indeed has power to help them — Those who […]
World Cup hosts Qatar face scrutiny over ‘slavery’ accusations
Source:CNN Zahir Belounis has spent the best part of the last two years without wages, a club or any prospect of returning home but the French Algerian footballer now faces his immediate future without the most basic of commodities.Food.”I will stop food, a hunger strike, I want to do that,” […]
Women elected speaker of Bangladesh’s parliament
courtesy: BBC News Women elected speaker of Bangladesh’s parliament Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury has close links with the governing Awami League party Bangladesh’s parliament has for the first time elected a woman, Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, as speaker. Mrs Chowdhury is a member of the governing Awami League party and was […]