The Problem with White Guilt

By Aki Muthali March 29, 2015 While privileged Muslims like “Jihadi John”, or his real name, Mohammed Emwazi, run off to join the Islamic State because they felt “discriminated” by equal treatment under British law and society – ignorant people like Russell Brand will concede to their fascism by claiming the lack of special accommodations Muslims receive is an act of racism and “intolerance”. And the privilege experienced by people like Brand is toxic ignorance compounded by an inferiority-complex induced by white guilt which prevents them from grasping the absolute fact that acts of racism, violence, oppression and cruelty are not limited to just white people – and that people like Emwazi and the Kouachi brothers [who committed the Charlie Hebdo massacre] are dictators of society...

The Changing Face of Britain: Islamophobia

The Changing Face of Britain: Islamophobia By Sabena Siddiqi  Mar 27, 2015 Islamophobia is back again in British politics. More frequent attacks on mosques and gradual, growing support for far-right groups reminds us that anti-Muslim feeling is on the increase. The perspective on Islam has changed since 9/11, it is simply not so easy anymore for Muslims living in the West. Britain has always been one of the most tolerant countries to live in, nobody wanted to be called a racist living in a British society. People had a liberal approach towards other religions and ethnicities, in fact immigration was made very easy in the 60s to make up for the lack of educated professionals and labour force. Doctors from India and Pakistan worked in the NHS, the government health service, and...

Syria to Yemen

Syria to Yemen By Yusuf Kanli 30 March, 2015 Could there be that much of a difference between how developments of this “Greater Middle Eastern Area” are perceived in Ankara, Cairo or Kuwait? Listening in a Kuwait hotel room to a political analyst on a Saudi news channel reporting live on the Cairo meeting of the Arab League, the difference of perception was crystal clear. “The Iran-backed terrorists in Yemen and the American-backed terrorists in Syria…” the analyst said, “cannot be tolerated.” What a correlation. Obviously things did not appear as such when viewed from Ankara. From Ankara’s perspective, the “people of Syria” are struggling against a “ruthless dictator” and peace can be restored only if the Bashar al-Assad regime...

Political Opposition in Islam

Political Opposition in Islam By Ahmet Kurucan March 29, 2015 The headline “Political opposition in Islam” is wrong. It should really be “Political opposition in the history of Islam.” I have always opposed categorical titles for political, economic, military and legal comments based on historical examples and cases in Islam. What I opposed in these titles was the reference to Islam in the discussion. My argument goes as follows: Islam is the name of a religion; by virtue of being in this category, it is thus all about the content of the Quran and the binding Hadiths from the Prophet Muhammad as well as his practices. Whatever remains outside this definition is not religion, but interpretation of the religion. No matter who does the interpretation, the case remains or should remain...

Islam Requires Muslims to Protect Christians

Islam Requires Muslims to Protect Christians By Kashif N. Chaudhry 30 March, 2015 Five years ago, I lost close friends in one of the most gruesome terrorist attack on Pakistani soil. In twin attacks on two Mosques in Lahore, 88 Ahmadi Muslim worshippers were killed at the hands of the Taliban. It was a painfully bloody day. This last weekend, I woke up to sad news from Pakistan that made me relive some of that pain. Fourteen worshipers were killed, and more than 70 were injured, when two Taliban suicide bombers blew themselves up outside churches in the Youhanabad neighbourhood of Lahore, Pakistan. These attacks on Pakistan's Christian community are not a sporadic event. They are a part of a very tragic trend. Just over a year...

Getting Into the Yemeni Storm

Getting Into the Yemeni Storm By Mshari Al-Zaydi 27 March 2015 What is currently happening in Yemen is not the first problem Saudi Arabia has faced with respect to its neighbour to the south. But the current problems don’t just concern Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom is of course the most affected out of the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, but it is by no means alone in being impacted. Other Gulf countries, as well as those along the Red Sea, and those countries whose ships pass through the Bab El-Mandeb strait and the Cape of Good Hope, will also be affected by the crisis. In fact, what is happening in Yemen poses a problem for the whole world, politically, strategically, and in terms of global security. This is especially true...

UK: Whatever Happened to That Muslim Brotherhood Review?

UK: Whatever Happened to That Muslim Brotherhood Review? By Douglas Murray March 30, 2015 What has happened to the British government's "review" into the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK? The "review" (officials have been careful not to refer to it as an '"inquiry") into the Muslim Brotherhood's "philosophy and values and alleged connections with extremism and violence" was announced by Prime Minister David Cameron almost a year ago. At a press conference, he said that Britain's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Sir John Jenkins, would lead the review. Explaining the need for such a process, Mr. Cameron said: "What I think is important about the Muslim Brotherhood is that we understand what this organisation is, what...

Indian Muslim Women Praise ‘Imam-e-Hind’ Shri Ram

Indian Muslim Women Praise ‘Imam-e-Hind’ Shri Ram Muslim women praise ‘Imam-e-Hind’ Shri Ram (Representative photo) Saudi Women in Security Positions Challenge Stereotypes Overcoming Challenges: 'Pakistan Girls Have To Walk the Extra Mile' Syria Trio’s London School Linked to More Girls Trying to Join Daesh Banned in Kenya, LGBT Film Tells Tales of Taboo Love IS Female Brigade Packed With British Jihadi Brides and Sex Worker Saudi Women Voice Their Importance in Times of Instability Why It's Wrong To Underestimate the Islamic State's Female Recruits Pittsburgh Muslim Women’s Association Holds Fundraiser for Needy Women South Africa: Multi-Party Women's Caucus Says SA Must Be Rid of Homophobia Asian...