Stories about Religion from July, 2008
Saudi Arabia: Is Divorce an Easy Word?
With divorce rates soaring to an all new high in Saudi Arabia, Saudi blogger 3abira Sabeel [Ar] asks: “Has divorce become such an easy word?” Amira Al Hussaini translates 3abira's post from Arabic, which discusses how different today's women are from their grandmothers and why young women and men find it easy to dissolve their unions.
Barbados: What happened to I'Akobi Tacuma Maloney?
After a young Rastafari man died during a suspicious encounter with Barbados police, Rastafari activists and other Barbadian bloggers used online resources to ask hard questions and campaign for justice.
Haiti: Act 3, Scene 2
“It has been fascinating to follow. And we are thankful that we are now watching Scene 2 unfold, while not really certain of its outcome”: jmc strategies is watching the process develop as Michèle Pierre-Louis moves closer to potentially becoming Prime Minister of Haiti.
Iran: Cleric's Protest Walk Ends in Jail
An Iranian cleric named Ali Reza Jahanshahi was arrested about two weeks ago, shortly after beginning a 960 kilometer (590 miles) protest walk from the southern Iranian city, Sirjan to Tehran. The cleric was protesting corrupt land appropriation in Sirjan, and complained the government was not doing enough to stop...
Ukraine: Lenin and Church Bells
Copydude writes about the decision of Lutsk authorities to “remelt [the town's] Lenin monument into church bells.”
Egypt: A Man's Views on Sexual Harassment in Egypt
In a series of posts tackling sexual harassment in Egypt, Marwa Rakha sheds light on a male Egyptian blogger's interpretation of what is really happening on the ground. "The Sex Files," by blogger Wael Nawara presents a rather interesting perspective on sexual harassment in Egypt.
Mourning a sexually harassed Egypt – Part 2
Reuters published survey on sexual harassment in Egypt is still stirring angry responses from Egyptian bloggers. Marwa Rakha sheds light on more reactions in this post.
Morocco: Analyzing Obama
Moroccan expat Ibn Kafka [fr] remarks on which Muslims U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama will have his photograph taken with.
Jamaica, India: Signs of the Times
The recent bombings in India trigger Jamaican blogger Annie Paul‘s memory about “one piece of graffiti by a Muslim group that had struck me with the simple force and stridency of its message.” In examining the many murals around Kingston, she wonders if “the signs are on the walls.”
Bahrain: Bloggers agree on code of ethics
Bahraini blogger Redbelt reports on a meeting where bloggers agreed on a code of ethics aimed at combating hate and discrimination online.
Kyrgyzstan: Islamic Education Institutions
Elena discusses the results of a two-month research project entitled “Modernization of Islamic Education Institutions in Kyrgyzstan”.
Syria: Proud to be Backward and an Extremist
Syrian blog Mohammed Online [Ar] posts six pieces of advice on how to become “backward” and an “extremist.” He also goes on to tell us why he would be proud being one.
Lebanon: Reviving Lebanon’s Jewish Community
“Lebanese Expatriates are helping to fund and renovate the ancient Magen Abraham synagogue in the heart of the Lebanese capital, one of the largest in the Arab world. Renovation is expected by the end of this year or by 2009,” reports The Lebanese Inner Circle.
China: Unheard of ‘Turkestan Islamic Party’ claims recent bombings
Do not confuse the unknown Turkestan Islamic Party with the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, writes the New Dominion blogger in their detailed post today on the news today of a Commander Seyfullah reportedly taking responsibility for recent bombing incidents in China and the video accompanying the claims (update: someone mentions...
Morocco: Another perspective on Faiza Silmi
Last week, Global Voices covered the story of Faiza Silmi, the Moroccan woman denied French citizenship for her beliefs and actions (which included, among other things, wearing the niqaab or full facial veil). Today, Moroccan blogger ...xoussef [FR] chimes in with another perspective on the issue.
Russia: Orthodox Instead of Universal Values?
A Step At A Time quotes an RFE/RL piece on the adoption by the Russian Orthodox Church of its Basic Principles on Human Dignity, Freedom, and Rights. One of its authors, Eurasianist Aleksandr Dugin, argues that the 1948 UN Human Rights declaration should be reexamined. Western HR-values should be replaced...
Indonesia: Divorce cases increasing
Indonesia Matters reports that divorce cases are up in Indonesia with more women initiating the divorce. Adultery is still the top reason for divorce but it is interesting to note that “political differences” are also causing family break-ups.
Serbia: Radovan Karadzic was Disguised as a Doctor
Radovan Karadzic lived in Belgrade under false name of Dragan David Dabic. He was disguised as an alternative medicine doctor and even worked in one private clinic in Belgrade. He also was a contributor to the Healthy Life magazine and took part in forums and lectures, gathering up to several hundred people. At the time of the arrest, Radovan Karadzic (aka Dragan Dabic) had long hair and a white beard. Sinisa Boljanovic translates Serbian bloggers' reactions to this astonishing piece of news.
Mourning A Sexually Harassed Egypt
Two-thirds of Egyptian men harass women showed a survey reported by Reuters. The survey of more than 2,000 Egyptian men and women and 109 foreign women said 62% of Egyptian men reported perpetrating harassment. 83% of Egyptian women reported having been sexually harassed. 98% of foreign women saying they had...
Saudi Arabia: Segregation on the blogroll?
It is well known that segregation of the sexes in Saudi Arabia exists in everyday life - but what about online? Can the names of male and female bloggers exist together on a blogroll? One Saudi blogger is amused at the thought.
Costa Rica: Towards a Lay State
Sergio from La Foto Salio Movida [es] believes that Costa Rica should become a lay state, which “would help us improve the political and social maturity….and that this would not attack Catholicism at all, or the free exercise of religion, and on the contrary, it would help treat others equally...
