Stories about Religion from February, 2007
The Jordanian Blogosphere: February Clippings
The Jordanian blogosphere is abuzz with two controversies this month. The first revolves around the proposal to build a tourist complex near the Dibbin Forest that will result in the cutting down of many trees. While a small online campaign has started up in recent days, other bloggers see the...
Peek at Poland: Time to Make the Pączki
“Polish Doughnuts” by Polska＊ポーランド＊Poland For at least one moment in the dark days of winter, life is sweet in Poland. Marking the last Thursday before Lent, Tłusty czwartek (or, Fat Thursday) is a day of over-indulgence in sweets. This past Thursday, in scenes disturbingly reminiscent of Communist days, the local...
Pakistan: Online freedom of speech as collateral damage?
This flash animation is converted from the Powerpoint Presentation made by Dr Awab Alvi for “The Battle for the Internet.” conference (His presentation can be viewed here-original file .ppt) One year ago, on the 27th of February 2006, when the Danish cartoons controversy exploded, spawning waves of protest, anger...
Israel: Equality at Western Wall?
Israeli blogger Rahel literally shows us where women stand at free bar mitzvah services at the Western Wall, offered by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, here. “The Western Wall Heritage Foundation offers free bar mitzvah services at the Western Wall. Nice of them. What do they offer to girls who...
Israel: A Predictable Misunderstanding
Israeli Blogger, from Thoughts from Israel, describes the latest escalation between the Arabs and Israelis over Al Aqsa as a “predictable misunderstanding.” “And so, once again, a stupid and inconsiderate action of some office in the Israeli government is perceived by Arabs as warmongering, thereby causing Arab panic and violence,...
Lebanon: Cold Civil War
You have heard of the cold war and you know what a civil war is. But what is a cold civil war? You need to read about it at Mustapha’s The Beirut Spring here.
Egypt: FOUR Years Prison Sentence for Blogger
Egyptian blogger Kareem Nabil Sulaiman made history today by being the first Egyptian to be sentenced to jail for articles he wrote on his personal blog. An Alexandria court found him guilty of insulting both Islam and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and sentenced him to four years in jail based...
Egypt: Vatican Visit Planned
A top Egyptian clergyman, Shaikh Mohammed Tantawi, has accepted Pope Benedict XVI invitation to visit the Vatican, reports Egyptian blogger Ibn Ad Dunya. He said the mini- summit “will hopefully help ease up some of the tension between the religions.”
Israel: Did You Know..
Israeli blogger Yael K gives us interesting information tidbits here, including how Hebrew was a required language at all American universities as the “Puritans who settled the U.S. saw themselves as the “new Israelites” and the United States as the new Zion–and thus the hebrew language requirement.”
Bangladesh: On beards and Islam
a bengali in TO presents a woman's take on beards. “Call me a firebrand, but I think beards are just ridiculous when they are worn as a sign of being a Muslim. Hijaabs as a gauge for your “Muslimity”, I understand and approve. I understand the moral and practical reasoning...
Egypt: In the Name of America
Sandmonkey entertains us with the tale of an Egyptian university professor who wrote In the Name of America (as opposed to In the Name of Allah) on a board in one of his classes. I really thought blackboards were obsolete. Never mind!
Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood Bloggers
Blogger Abdulmonem Mahmood lists a number of Muslim Brotherhood blogs which have sprung up in Egypt recently here.
Malaysia: Moral Police
Unspun compares the religious moral policing in Malaysia with the relatively liberal attitude in Indonesia.
Bangladesh: Celebrating the Mother Language day
Today is the International Mother Language Day, an annual event in UNESCO member states to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. This is mostly the international recognition of Language Movement Day called ‘Ekushey February’, which is commemorated in Bangladesh since 1952, when a number of Bangla-speaking people were massacred...
Lebanon: Can Politicians Fast?
Lebanese blogger Liliane is wondering whether politicians can fast or stop doing what they love for the 50 days of Lent.
Lebanon: Observing Lent
Lebanese blogger Rampurple is observing Lent this year. “Let the countdown begin. 49 days left until Easter and until I have chocolate and burgers again. Those are what I am craving for right now. Let’s see how long I will last. It is the first time I fast completely,” she...
Abu Aardvark: The Relationship Between Islam and the West
Abu Aardvark, aka Marc Lynch, has just recorded “a bit for BBC Newshour on a new 27 nation survey of international public opinion on relations between Islam and the West.” For more on the survey and its results, read his post.
Bangladesh: How men are oppressed
a bengali in TO tickles my funnies with this post on how Islam oppresses men. “And we men can't even spend 200 bucks on the Nike basketball shoes because all that is required from us is to be covered from navel to the knee (as if I am some Greek...
A Week in the Saudi Blogosphere
False assumptions of a Saudi threat to US campuses, a bald Britney Spears, two new Saudi air carriers, Valentine's day, and the infamous “burqini;” all that and much more is in this week's roundup. I noticed many Saudi bloggers referring to the recent happenings in Jerusalem. As it turns out,...
Indonesia: Israeli Scholar Warns Australia on Indonesian Immigrants
Indonesia Matters has a post on an Israeli scholar currently teaching in Australia. The professor is asking Australia to tighten its immigration policies to prevent Indonesian Muslim immigrants.
India: A positive peace
Cuckoo's Call on building positive peace between the Hindu and Muslim communities. ‘Positive peace’ is rooted in shared recognition by Hindus and Muslims of the all-round destructiveness of the communal divide, and the need to act purposefully to address this. Positive peace goes beyond tolerance, to embrace ongoing dialogue, mutual...
