The Shia-Sunni Schism is about Politics, Not about Islam
Written by Dr. Abdul Alim: Since the execution of the Shia Cleric Al-Nimr over the weekend, and the subsequent tensions that have worsened the relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, […]
Saudi Arabia’s Dangerous Sectarian Game
Source: The New York Times WHEN Saudi Arabia executed the Shiite cleric and political dissident Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday, the country’s leaders were aware that doing so would upset […]
Greece’s parliament has voted to recognise Palestinian statehood – here are all the other countries that already do
Source: i100 Independent On 22 December, Greece’s parliament voted in a non-binding resolution to recognise the state of Palestine, making it the latest European country to do so. The parliamentary […]
Scalia’s Views on Religious Neutrality Reveal He Is Neutral on Sanity
Source: Huffington Post Speaking at a Catholic high school in New Orleans recently, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said, “To tell you the truth there is no place for that […]
The Periodic Table Has 4 Brand New Elements
Source: Huffington Post Four new elements have been added to the periodic table, making science textbooks across the world out of date. The elements were verified and added by the […]
Something Wicked: White Supremacy as 2016’s Urgent Faith Challenge
Huff Post: by Rev Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite — Something Wicked This Way Comes is not only a sinister 1962 fantasy novel by Ray Bradbury, it is also descriptive of the malevolent and growing power of white supremacy in the United States. This accelerating menace is an urgent faith challenge […]
Nimr’s execution may compound Saudi Arabia’s problems
theguardian: by Ian Black — King Salman’s decision to enforce a death penalty his predecessor balked at reflects tougher line on Iran and internal dissent – and lack of a coherent strategy A man burns a picture of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman at a protest in Delhi over the execution […]
16 Ways You Can Support American Muslims in 2016
Source: Huffington Post By Qasim Rashid; Visiting Fellow, Harvard University’s Prince Alwaleed bin Talal School of Islamic Studies In hindsight, 2015 had many great moments, but also many terrible things […]
Toward a Political Theory of Sectarianism in the Middle East: The Salience of Authoritarianism over Theology
mei.edu: Sectarian identities could not be politicized unless differences in beliefs, values, and historical memory compelled religious groups to collective action around particularistic identities. The critical question, however, that demands an answer in explaining sectarian conflict is: why now? Why do sectarian conflicts erupt at particular moments in time and […]
What if the Oregon Protesters Were Black or Muslim? Debate Ensues
NY Times: The Oregon protest at a federal wildlife refuge has reignited an already intense debate on social media about policing, race and terrorism. On Saturday, an armed group of […]
Canadian Kids Welcome Syrian Refugees With Friendship, Big Smiles In Video
“I’m gonna be your friend!” By Kimberly Yam; Associate Good News Editor, The Huffington Post These Canadian children welcomed Syrian refugees to their country with open arms. Nonprofit World Vision Canada, a Christian […]
Saudi Arabia recruits Sunni allies in row with Iran
Reuters International JAN 4, 2016 – swissinfo.ch By Sam Wilkin DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia rallied Sunni allies to its side in a growing diplomatic row with Iran on Monday, deepening a sectarian split across the Middle East following the kingdom’s execution of a prominent Shi’ite cleric. Bahrain and Sudan […]
Swiss summon Saudi diplomat over executions
JAN 4, 2016 – 17:56 Iranian anti-riot police stand guard during a demonstration near the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran. (Keystone) The Swiss foreign ministry has summoned the Saudi Arabian charge d’affaires to express its opposition to the mass execution of 47 people, including a prominent Shiite cleric. In a […]
Somali workers fired at Colorado packing plant in prayer dispute
Source: Reuters Nearly 200 workers, mostly Somali immigrants, have been fired from a meat-packing plant in Colorado after staging a walkout to protest what they said were insufficient prayer accommodations, the company and Islamic advocacy groups said on Thursday. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the workers were treated […]
Xinjiang Seethes Under Chinese Crackdown
Source: The New York Times KASHGAR, China — Families sundered by a wave of detentions. Mosques barred from broadcasting the call to prayer. Restrictions on the movements of laborers that […]
Trump Calls His Al Qaeda Recruitment Video Highest-Rated Terror Video Ever
Source: The New Yorker NEW YORK (The Borowitz Report)—Just minutes after the Somali-based Al Qaeda affiliate Shabaab group released a propaganda video featuring a clip of Donald Trump, the Republican […]
Scalia dismisses concept of religious neutrality in speech
Source: Associated Press METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said Saturday the idea of religious neutrality is not grounded in the country’s constitutional traditions and that God […]
India: Pathankot attack, intelligence failure
Pathankot, Jan 4: Even as security forces continue to engage with terrorists in Pathankot, there are various questions being raised about the response. Preliminary investigations show that the terrorists had infiltrated into India in two groups. There is clear evidence to show that two vehicles, a Pajero and a Land […]
The Muslim Times Leading the Way as Regards Relationship Between Science and Religion
The lead post is by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times The key to enlightenment may lie in avoiding dogmatism and a totalitarian philosophy in favor […]
Millions may face hunger, water shortages in 2016 due to possibly most destructive El Niño to hit world
Source: Christian Today Millions of Americans experienced an unusually warm Christmas this year, with temperature even reaching 70 degrees Fahrenheit along the East Coast, due to the El Niño phenomenon. […]