Stories about Religion from January, 2010
Turkmenistan: Jesus saves Turkmenistan on TV
Annasoltan says that Kanal Hayat (Channel Life), a satellite channel programming in Turkish about Christianity, has launched programs in Turkmen language that are broadcast in Turkmenistan.
Syria: A Short Story
Medad blog published a sarcastic short story [ar] depicting a Muslim cleric and a Christian cleric passionately discussing virtue and interfaith understanding as each of them tries to claim a spot that allows them to peep through a crack in the wall of a women's bathhouse.
Africa: On Homophobia in Africa
Responses to Homophobia in Africa by Sokari: “I’m writing this post in response to number of articles on the prevalence of homophobia in Africa and to try and give some perspective and historical context.”
Haiti, Poland: “Lost Polish Tribe on Haiti”
“Poland and Haiti – who would have thought…?” Raf Uzar writes about “the most intriguing group of people among Poland’s huge diaspora” – the “Poles of Haiti.”
Pakistan: In Search Of A Pakistani Identity
In a recent survey three quarters of Pakistani youth viewed themselves as Muslims first, Pakistani second. Raza Rumi talks about the identity crisis of the Pakistani younger generation, which deviates from the views of the founding father of the nation.
Egypt: The Right to Speak Up
Egyptian bloggers and activists held a conference on January 22 in defense of their right to speak up after more than 20 Egyptian bloggers were arrested when their train arrived in the village of Naga Hammady where the Coptic massacre took place. Marwa Rakha sums up their reactions to their detention in this post.
Haiti: Damage in Surrounding Areas
how can they hear takes a trip to Leogane and posts photos of the damage, saying: “The truth is that people need to see that Leogane and the surrounding areas need help. We still have families buried underneath the rubble here”, while Ellen in Haiti crunches some numbers: “It says...
Haiti: Endurance
“Over and over mind-numbing injuries that are now two weeks old — yet the people are stoic, strong, long-suffering, graceful … resilient beyond comprehension”: The Livesay [Haiti] Weblog is convinced that “against the odds, the people of Haiti will endure.”
Haiti: 2 Weeks After
Tara Livesay gives an update two weeks after the devastating earthquake hit Haiti.
Nigeria: Bloggers discuss the massacre in Jos
On January 17th, violence erupted in the central Nigerian city of Jos. In the following hours, reports of the conflict spread as witnesses reported mobs armed with knives and machetes roving among burning houses, mosques, and churches. The conflict is ostensibly sectarian: Jos is a major city along Nigeria's “Middle Belt” – the fault line which divides the country's Christian-majority south from its Muslim-majority north.
Afghanistan: Ex-Taliban official releases book
Peter Marton reviews the book “My life with the Taliban” by Abdul Salam Zaeef, former Taliban’s ambassador to Pakistan and the Afghan Emirate’s face to the world in 2000-2001.
Saudi Arabia: Moving closer to child marriage ban
Crossroads Arabia speculates that the Saudi government seems to be moving closer to a ban on marriages of women under the age of 18.
South Africa: The Polygamist President – “Doing a ‘Zuma'”
The President of South Africa has decided, once again, to marry. The number is up to 5 this time with recent news saying he's engaged to his sixth. The man moves fast, and works fast too... he is now up to 18 children and with a new wife I think we can expect more. Here's what the South African bloggers say.
Palestine: Christians Prevented from marking Epiphany on Jordan River
The corner report published an article stating that the Israeli officials prevented Christian pilgrims from performing the traditional baptism ceremony to mark Epiphany on the Jordan River.
Barbados, Haiti: Power of Love
“Yes, there is good emerging from the horror in Haiti, a very great deal of it. If it could, that power – the all-encompassing, ominpotent power of love – would end suffering” – and, blogging from Barbados, B.C. Pires is quick to remind us that “it comes unbidden from human...
Egypt: Detained Bloggers Tell their Tales
More than 20 Egyptian bloggers, who were on their way to pay their respects to the families of the victims of the Coptic massacre, were arrested when their train arrived in the village of Naga Hammady in Upper Egypt. They were released shortly afterwards and they are now telling us their side of the story.
Haiti: “Our hope has not died”
A truly inspiring update from The Livesay [Haiti] Weblog: “The reports of violence – we don't get those. Have not seen it. Have not experienced it. Nothing even remotely close. People are helping each other and are warm and kind and humble. I only know one thing – Our hope...
Nepal: Saraswati Puja
Alisha at Pour Les Femmes writes how Saraswati Puja (Basanta Panchami) is celebrated in Nepal.
Syria: Is one man really worth two women in Islam?
Syrian blogger Maysaloon argues whether one should still accept the saying that a man is worth two women in Islam or should it be interpreted differently now a days? He then lists reasons to validate his argument.
Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood Elects New Head
The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt has elected a new leader - Mr Muhammad Bedei. Egyptian bloggers reaction to the new appointment in this post.
Barbados, DR, Haiti: Good vs. Evil
Regional bloggers lash back at American televangelist Pat Robertson, whose comments about the Haiti disaster left a bad taste in their mouths.
