Ritual and Secrecy Surround Conclave
By DANIEL J. WAKIN VATICAN CITY – It begins with prayers chanted in an ancient language and ends with a tiny figure on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica unveiled […]
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.
Syria: When Nonviolent Revolutions Spin Into Bloodshed
by by Janine di Giovanni THE DAILY BEAST Srdja Popovic goes around the world teaching nonviolent techniques to activists to overthrow autocrats. Whenever he talks about the Arab Spring, he […]
Narratives of Women’s Conversion to Islam in UK: Study
The reports of increasing conversion to Islam of women living in the UK brings to mind the prophecies of the Promised Messiah and Imam Mehdi (Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad- blessing […]
SAN FRANCISCO GRAPPLES WITH ANTI-ISLAM AD- JEWISH DAILY
San Francisco Grapples With Anti-Islam Bus Ads Pamela Geller’s Group Spawns New ‘Jihad’ Controversy GETTY IMAGES Anti-Islam: Pamela Geller, left, is involved in controversy again as her group posts new ads denouncing radical Islam in San Francisco. By Reuters Published March 11, 2013 San Francisco city buses began carrying political […]
Separate voters list for Ahmadis: Court summons AG over discrimination complaint
Source: Dawn The Supreme Court made known on Monday its intention to take a decision, in the light of constitutional provisions and principles laid down in the 1993 Zaheeruddin case verdict, on a complaint that the election procedures discriminate against the Ahmadi community. A bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad […]
Jamaat-e-Islami is now terror outfit – Says Bangladesh info minister
Source: The Dailystar.net The government has been considering taking action against the Jamaat-e-Islami under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009 as the party has emerged as a terrorist organisation, Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu yesterday said. “Jamaat has turned out to be a party of militants and terrorists. We are assessing the […]
Syrian conflict turns Lebanon into transshipment hub
By Lysandra Ohrstrom The Daily Star Story Summary Before the conflict in Syria erupted in 2011, potatoes exported from the Bekaa Valley would travel by truck to Latakia’s port, where […]
After Cashing In on Job Cuts, Wall St. Looks to Worker Upturn
Wall Street is hopeful that American companies, after years of gaining ground at the expense of their employees, will start to succeed because of the rising fortune of those workers. Less than a week since the Dow Jones industrial average hit its all-time high, the broader Standard & Poor’s 500-stock […]
US, UK and France training Syrian rebels in Jordan – reports
Foreign instructors are training Syrian rebels in modern warfare in Jordan, suggest media reports from Europe. Sources claim the trainees will be the security force if Assad goes, while the […]
Good Lord: In China, Christian Fundamentalists Target Tibetans
By Clarissa Sebag-Montefiore / Xining TIME WORLD When Dawa said yes to a party held by American friends in the city of Xining, she expected music, drinks, and a chance […]
On questioning the Jewish State
By JOSEPH LEVINE THE NEW YORK TIMES I was raised in a religious Jewish environment, and though we were not strongly Zionist, I always took it to be self-evident that “Israel has a right to exist.” Now anyone who has debated the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will have encountered this phrase often. […]
Death by a thousand cuts
by Farahnaz Ispahani THE HINDU After each act of violence against religious minorities, the Taliban, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi or Sipah-e-Sahaba proudly own up to it without fear of punishment The recent mob […]
Dirty Palestinian pavement that could end Israel
Source: Today’s Zaman Not a single week passes without news reports on Israel’s unfair treatment of its subjects and Israel is awash with ubiquitous apartheid practices, particularly in the occupied […]
Peres Meets Jewish, Muslim Leaders in France
President Peres meets the heads of the Jewish community of France and a delegation of Imams, one year after attacks in Toulouse. President Shimon Peres met on Sunday with the heads of the Jewish community of France and with a delegation of Imams including the heads of the Egyptian, African, […]
USA: Binghamton man keynote speaker at Muslim conference
CORNING — The actions of a few Islamic radicals have given the Prophet Muhammad and Islam a bad reputation, according to a Muslim organization dedicated to painting a more accurate […]
No country for minorities
Aijaz Zaka Syed Friday, February 22, 2013 Source: Dubai eye The News Pakistan http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-9-161448-No-country-for-minorities The writer is a commentator on Middle East and South Asian affairs. These aren’t the best of times for minorities in South Asia. From the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, to the idyllic Buddhist paradise of Sri […]
Meerut sets new standards in Hindu-Muslim unity
Source: ANI News Meerut, Mar 4 (ANI): Meerut, situated in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh, is famous for harmony between people of diverse religions who live here. One place in the city which exemplifies this fact is a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman in the Baksar area of the […]
Two Muslim students win all 3 Sanskrit medals in Gujarat University
Source: Indian Express Defying stereotypes, a Muslim boy and girl have bagged all three medals instituted for the BA course in the ancient Indian language by the Gujarat University. Two of the medals for Sanskrit were won by Taiyab Sheikh, a student of Y S Arts and Commerce college in […]
New Mormon scriptures tweak race, polygamy references – Scholars laud changes, say they bring a more accurate, fuller view of faith’s history.
By Peggy Fletcher Stack | The Salt Lake Tribune Mormon historians are cheering the newly released English edition of LDS scriptures, pointing to new wording about race and polygamy that […]
Switzerland: Integrating Foreigners: Cabinet agrees criteria for permanent residency
by Urs Geiser, swissinfo.ch Mar 8, 2013 Foreigners seeking permanent residency in Switzerland must speak one of the country’s four national languages, according to a government proposal. The bill includes […]