Stories about Religion from September, 2008
Arabeyes: Snapshots of Eid
It's Eid today, or tomorrow. Eid Al Fitr is a celebration which marks the end of the Muslim month of Ramadhan, and here are a few reactions on the occasion from around the Arab world.
Jordan: Hypocrisy, Freedom or Disrespect?
From Jordan, Ahmed Humeid shares his thoughts on Ramadhan, hypocrisy, freedom and disrespect after the closure of a popular cafe for serving alcohol in Ramadhan in this post. Find out why when you click on the link.
Jordan: Hypocrisy, Freedom or Disrespect?
From Jordan, Ahmed Humeid shares his thoughts on Ramadhan, hypocrisy, freedom and disrespect after the closure of a popular cafe for serving alcohol in Ramadhan in this post. Find out why when you click on the link.
Saudi Arabia: No to Fashionable Abayas
Mosan Mosan, from Kuwait, writes about a crackdown by Saudi authorities on fashionable Abayas (black cloaks worn by women) ahead of Eid – a celebration which marks the end of the Holy Muslim month of Ramadhan.
Qatar: Time to Break Fast
From Qatar, Bahraini blogger Ammar Talk [ar] posts pictures of children around cannons, fired to signal the time to break one's fast in Ramadhan.
Bangladesh: Significance of Eid ul Fitr
Depending on geographic location, muslims around the world will be celebrating the Eid ul Fitr Festival either on Tuesday (30th September) or Wednesday (1st October). Inspirations and Creative Thoughts discusses the significance of the Eid day which follows the month of Ramadan.
India: The Kolu
Blokesablogin writes in Desicritics about the Kolu: “While the Bengalis begin their Pujo, many of us in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, set up ‘steps’ and have a dolls exhibition, many of them themed after stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Shrimad Bhagavatham.”
Lebanon: A Blogger's Debut
In his blog debut, Only Lebnane talks about his opinion regarding the Lebanese society and how its foundations are becoming more sectarian and political.
Palestine: Retaining a sense of humanity in Gaza
As the situation in Gaza deteriorates from one day to the next, many are struggling not only with the enormous difficulties of daily life, but with the change in values they see around them, in a society that has become dominated by Islamist thinking. In this post, a blogger in Gaza writes a passionate cry of despair.
Senegal: Would you mind fasting with us?
George writes about Ramadan in Dakar, Senegal: “This Ramadan in Dakar, I had a most interesting invitation from a couple of friends. “…Would you mind fasting with us?”, they asked. What was the significance of this invitation?”
Morocco: Schools Closing
The View from Fez reports that the Moroccan government plans to shut down 60 Qur'anic schools around the country, all of which are associated with Sheikh Mohamed Ben Abderrahman Al-Maghraoui, who earlier this month decreed that the marriage of nine-year-old girls was permissible. His declaration is an affront to Morocco's...
Myanmar: Saffron Revolution a year later
Alternative Asean Network on Burma published a briefer which revealed the intensified repression in Myanmar a year after the crackdown on the monk-led Saffron Revolution.
Bangladesh: Remnants of terror
Black and Gray discusses the threats of remnant terrorists in Bangladesh and opines: “the imams of different mosques and other Islamic scholars can play a pivotal role in making people aware about the evil of terror.”
India: Ramadan in Kolkata
Cuckoo's Call posts some photos of Ramadan in Calcutta (Kolkata).
Egypt: Jihad Hackers
Is Jihad spilling from the ground on to the virtual world? Egyptian blogger Marwa Rakha writes here (and here) about how the internet has affected the ongoing debate between the secular and Islamic camps in Egypt.
Bangladesh: Eid & Puja shopping
With the Eid & Puja festivities nearing the people of Dhaka are busy with shopping. Dhaka blog posts some photos of Eid shopping in the city.
Barbados, Jamaica, U.S.A.: Political Issues
Living in Barbados says that the recent battle for leadership in Jamaica's opposition party proves “that the overlapping values of candidates’ religion, race, gender, class, colour, speech, perceived intelligence and such personal characteristics–may play out in our little garden of politics at least as much as we think they do...
Pakistan: “Hey! Why is Google ignoring us?”
Pakistanis are using blogs as a medium to raise their voices about an important issue regarding the biases of technology giant Google. The issue we are talking about is Google Doodles for Pakistan. Google Doodles refers to the Google's logo designs project that Google displays occasionally. Google celebrates and pays...
U.S.: Russian Woman's View of a U.S. Church
Russian History Blog translates a U.S.-based Russian woman's tirade about a local church she has to attend because she “[wants] to please [her] husband.”
Senegal: Would you mind fasting with us?
George writes about Ramadan in Senegal: “This Ramadan in Dakar, I had a most interesting invitation from a couple of friends. “…Would you mind fasting with us?”, they asked. What was the significance of this invitation?”
Jordan: When do you say Enough?
The more you have, the more you want. When do you say you have had enough and become content with the blessings bestowed upon you, asks Ola Eliwat from Jordan.