Stories about Religion from November, 2006
Arabisc: Arrested Blogger Released and the Civilisation of Terrorism
Egyptian blogger Ramy Siyam – aka Ayoub – is out of jail, after spending an eventful 108 hours being moved from one detention centre to the other. According to fellow blogger Alaa Abdelfattah: “He was arrested in a sweep in downtown while securing the area for the President's visit to...
Bangladesh: Islam and Iraq
Or how I learned to stop worrying on a Muslim reaction to the situation in Iraq. “Who says that Muslims, just like everyone of good conscience, are not horrified by the violence and killings in Iraq? Who says that Muslims are not opposed to this chaos? I feel no inclination...
India: Gandhigiri, Hinduism and the Media
Ambimama reflects on reactions to a popular actor being tried in the court of law under charges of terrorism and a religious leader being tried for murder, drawing links political will, the underworld and the silence of the media. “In North only film industry is controlled by the underworld. But...
The Blogoma retaliates while Blaise LLorca calms the angry e-crowd
Moroccan bloggers under fire! The Moroccan blogosphere (Blogoma) is very angry. Why? Well a Moroccan blogger qualified the Moroccan blogging as being still in the “teen aging period”(Fr). Mohamed Lachyab, a Moroccan journalist who's decorating his blog with …his own pictures, gave an interview(Ar) to the Moroccan newspaper Almasae, and...
Iran:Friday Prayer
Kamangir has published very interesting photos about scenes from Friday prayers.
Cambodia: Cambodia's Rabbi
Arie meets the first and only native rabbi in Cambodia.”Jewish? In Phnom Penh? Adollah would like to meet you. He's very friendly, free with his blessings, and he may be able to heal the sick.”
Kazakhstan: Video & Image
Registan.net discusses the very different images created by Kazakhstan's promotional videos and videos of the destruction of a Hare Krishna community in southern Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan: Religious Tolerance
KZBlog reports on religious and ethnic tolerance in Kazakhstan in the wake of the destruction of the only Hare Krishna community in the country.
Qatar: Imams Had No Business Praying in Plane
Qatar Cat is unruffled with the ourcry made over the arrest and questioning of six imams (Islamic religious men), who were off loaded for praying in a plane. He says it isn't something done in planes in the Middle East.
Balkan Blog Roundup: Focus on the Positive
The Balkans need reconciliation, confidence and positivism to change and become the winning region of Europe with happier citizens. You can see that in the inspirational words from the Serbian, Bosnian and Croatian blogospheres. Toshiba posts some thoughts of the late Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic during his motivational meetings...
India: Karva Chauth, women and their husbands
The Mad Momma reflects on the ritual of Karva Chauth – a fast kept by married women to pray for their husbands to live long. “Does your husband not love you then? Doesn't he want to fast and pray to God to give you a long life?”
Egypt: Cairo's women speak out against violence
In the run-up to the annual global campaign for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, Egypt's First Lady, Suzanne Mubarak, addressing a meeting of the Arab Women's Organisation, issued a heartfelt plea: What shall we do to face challenges of discrimination, extremism and religious fanaticism? It's a vexing question...
Dominica: Preachers
Kenny Green takes Caribbean preachers to task for their lack of engagement with fundamental issues affecting local communities: “Political amoebas, glory hunters in general, and silent on every single topic except in toeing the party line from their Grand Leader somewhere else. They almost like some regional company with the...
Lebanon: Campaigns, Politics and Photos
A wide variety of topics were highlighted in the Lebanese blogosphere this week. There are campaigns against sectarianism, child abuse and AIDS as well as minorities speaking out. There are attempts to define the shades of grey in internal Lebanese politics. We also have posts about the media, nice photos...
Arabisc: One Blogger Arrested..1000s More to Go!
There doesn't seem to be a week passing by without Egyptians and its bloggers rocking the boat and taking the virtual limelight in our part of the world. This week the huge ripples in the Nile are being caused by no other than Egyptian Culture Minister Farooq Hosni, who has...
South Asia: Politics, Happiness, Religion and The Birds
The latest from different blogs about the following South Asian Countries: Bangladesh: Bangladesh is facing a political crisis. Unheard Voices: Drishtipat group blog informs about a citizens movement in Bangladesh in which people are urged to wear a black badge demanding a free and fair election and to bring an...
The Week That Was in Bahrain
For a small constitutional monarchy, with a population of about 700,000, Bahrain's blogosphere is sure never short of new topics for discussion and debate. This week's new topics include the arrest of two activists, a rally to push authorities to probe what is now commonly referred to in Bahrain as...
Arabisc: Culprits, Democracy and the Rule of Law
Choosing links from 22 different Arab countries for translation is no easy feat..for however much you try and be selective, you cannot be doing the region and its bloggers any justice. Today I have selected the following links, each highlighting a different woe Arab bloggers have to deal with. Our...
Pakistan: The politics of Women Rights Bill
All Things Pakistan looks at the controversy surrounding the politics of the Women Rights Bill which would drastically change the rape laws in the country. However, the post cautions “It is clear that the major proponents of change in laws believe that too many political compromises have been made by...