Disunity and distress
The Daily Star Ten years after the death of Yasser Arafat, and the situation for Palestinians is at its direst in years, and any hope of unity between different factions […]
War with Isis: The forgotten, plucky Kurds under siege in their enclave on Syria’s border with Turkey
Robert Fisk visits Rumeilan, where its people strive to extract oil, produce asphalt and continue the struggle against the Islamist militants The skies are grey-black from the oilfields and refineries […]
Policy Brief: Reimagining Human Rights in Pakistan
<!–0–> Jinnah Institute Source By Asad Jamal A rising graph of extremism in Pakistan has triggered alarm on the plummeting standards of human rights protections and entitlements across the country. The recent burning of a Christian couple by a 1,500 strong mob on the outskirts of Lahore underscores the gravity […]
Iran: New Law Proposes 74 Lashes for Dog Owners
New Iranian Law Proposes 74 Lashes for Dog Owners A new law proposed in Iran would make walking, owning or selling a dog a crime punishable by 74 lashes and a fine of $370 to $3,700. Sun, November 9, 2014 Clarion Project An Iranian woman stands in front of a […]
Freud and the Middle East
NOV. 11, 2014 Thomas L. Friedman ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — When trying to make sense of the Middle East, one of the most important rules to keep in mind is this: What politicians here tell you in private is usually irrelevant. What matters most, and what explains their […]
Russian Christians Urge President Of Pakistan To Pardon Asia Bibi
christiansinpakistan.com: Russian Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has sent a letter to the President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain, pleading him to pardon the blasphemy convict Asia Bibi. Asia Bibi is a Pakistani Christian woman sentenced to death for blasphemy. The letter was published on the Patriarchate website. The primate of the […]
Mecca under threat: Outrage at plan to destroy the ‘birthplace’ of the Prophet Mohamed and replace it with a new palace and luxury malls
The site in Mecca where the Prophet Mohamed is said to have been born is about to be “buried under marble” and replaced by a huge royal palace. The work […]
Isis in Syria: In the shadow of death, a few thousand Christians remain to defy militants
BY ROBERT FISK, THE INDEPENDENT Just 15 miles from the frontline of Isis, which persecutes their faith, the Christians of Qamishli gathered in the Church of the Holy Virgin for the wedding of Malek Aissa and Ilana Hacho. The bride was a priest’s sister, the bridegroom a computer engineer, and […]
Slavery – An Anathema to Humanity and Islam
Source: Huffington Post Farooq Aftab, Spokesperson Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Worldwide & AMYA UK, Lawyer, Human Rights Advocate, News Commentator, Writer & Public Speaker/Trainer on Islam “One should remember that enslaving the […]
Qur’an lesson for today: 290. Commandment if you desire to punish the oppressors, then punish them to the extent to which you have been wronged
290. Commandment if you desire to punish the oppressors, then punish them to the extent to which you have been wronged [16:127] And if you desire to punish the oppressors, then punish them to the extent to which you have been wronged; but if you show patience, then, surely, that […]
Qur’an lesson for today: 291. Commandment to bearing witness in equity; and let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise
291. Commandment to bearing witness in equity; and let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice [5:9] O ye who believe! be steadfast in the cause of Allah, bearing witness in equity; and let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with […]
Beautiful Hadith about Seeking Allah’s Pardon
Reported by Ibn ‘Abbas (RA): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “If anyone constantly seeks pardon (from Allah), Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress and a relief from every anxiety, and will provide sustenance for him from where he expects not.”(Abu Dawud)
‘Lost Gospel’ claims Jesus was married, had children
Source: Fox News It’s called “The Lost Gospel” and it’s based off of manuscripts found in British Library dating back more than 1,400 years written in Syriac, the language spoken by Jesus himself. It claims Jesus had a secret family made up of two sons and a wife. Was Jesus […]
It’s dangerous to be so cosy with the Gulf’s autocrats
theguardian: by Brian Whitaker — In 2012 David Cameron jubilantly announced a £2.5bn order for 20 Typhoon warplanes from Oman, model seen here at the Farnborough show – but who will get to use them, and for what? A few days ago, the American ambassador in Beirut said he was […]
Qatar emir issues summit invite amid strains over Islamists
Reuters | Nov 11, 2014 | 23:02 Updated: Nov 11, 2014 | 23:02 DOHA — Qatar’s emir on Tuesday publicly invited fellow Gulf rulers to a Doha summit, apparently seeking to forestall what diplomats say is an attempt by some peers to move it elsewhere in protest at what they […]
Isis in Syria: The story of the martyred soldiers who fought ‘to the last bullet’ to avoid the fate of captured comrades beheaded by militants
By Robert Fisk, The Independent No one knows who Haj Badr was, but his white-painted tomb lies in a small sanctuary atop an ancient “tel” where potsherds thousands of years old lie scattered down the hillside. And it is from this windswept outpost south of Qamishli – for many years […]
Is Jerusalem the Palestinians’ last battle?
by Rami G. Khouri, Daily Star, Lebanon The escalating isolated incidents of violence between Israelis and Palestinians during the past few months have focused heavily on Jerusalem, and for good reason. The reason is not only the religious significance of the Noble Sanctuary/Temple Mount area that is holy to both […]
Abbas warns Israel of religious war amid mosque row
Russia Today: Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said a global religious war could be triggered if Jews are allowed to pray on the Temple Mount in Al-Aqsa mosque, which in his words would “contaminate” it. READ MORE: Abbas warns of legal measures against Israeli ‘aggression’ on Al-Aqsa mosque Abbas also warned […]
Plight Of Sikhs in Pakistan
Credit: Dawn.com Narayanpura — An anomaly for Karachi’s marginalised Sikhs By Syed Fawad Hasan In a lesser-known neighbourhood of Karachi’s Ranchore Lines, a gurdwara, a church and […]
India: 11 women die after sterilisation, 4 officials fired
Thehindu.com 11 women die after sterilisation surgeries in Chhattisgarh re2 PTI The victims of faulty sterilisation drive in a Bilaspur hospital. Photo: Pavan Dahat PTI Villagers protesting at out side the state health minister’s residence against underwent sterilisation surgeries, in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh on Tuesday. Members of AIDWA stage a […]