Stories about Religion from September, 2009
USA: Eid Postage Stamp Provokes Hate in Tennessee
A chain e-mail that falsely claims President Obama has issued a new postage stamp commemorating the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr has even reached a Tennessee mayor who forwarded it to employees encouraging them to boycott the stamp.
Laos: Monk Chat Blog
The Monk Chat program in Vientiane is a venue where Lao monks and foreigners can exchange in dialogue about their culture and religion.
South Africa: Eid Mubarak from community blog
A community blog, Ramadan.co.za wishes its readers Eid Mubarak: “I hope we have brought value to you this Ramadan, and we hope that you have enjoyed reading the articles. Also, please take the time to thank the bloggers and remember us in your duas. All the bloggers here put in...
Morocco: Rage Against the Sandwich Continues
Eating in public during Ramadan is often seen as a disregardful and disrespectful act and might attract the anger of the public. Moreover it is punishable by law. Moroccan Bloggers and cyber-activists react to the attempt by some non-observants to brave the ban on breaking the fast in public during Ramadan.
A Halal Search Engine for Muslim Internet Users
ImHalal.com, a search engine in English launched earlier this month by a Netherlands-based company, only fetches results that are flagged as “Halal” and safe for Muslim users. Blogger Agharass [Fr] comments.
Mexico: Spreading the Message of Islam
According to recent Census figures, there are 25,000 Muslims in Mexico, which represents .02% of the population. However, this community is using advertisements on public transportation and digital media to help spread their message.
Aceh, Indonesia: Adulterers will be stoned to death
Bad news for adulterers and homosexuals in Aceh, Indonesia: The Regional House of Representatives has passed a law that imposes a punishment of stoning to death against married adulterers and 100 lashes with a cane and a fine of 100 grams of pure gold against homosexuals.
Egypt: Bloggers call for a fun-filled harassment-free Eid
As Eid Al Fitr approaches, women in Egypt are bracing themselves for even more sexual harassment than what has already become a disturbing norm. Bloggers and online activists are also joining forces to fight the phenomenon, calling for a fun-filled and harassment-free celebration.
Morocco: Activists Break Fast in Public, Receive Punishment
During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating or drinking from dawn to sunset. A group of Moroccan activists was reprimanded for breaking the fast in public, an action that is punishable under the Moroccan criminal code. A divided blogoma reacts to the incident.
Egypt: A Coptic Presidential Candidate?
A Copt has stated his intent to run for elections for Egypt's top post in the 2011 presidential race. Lawyer Mamdouh Ramzy, a member of the Constitutional Party, is venturing where many have failed.
Morocco: Rage against the Sandwich
Larbi, in Comme une bouteille jetée à la mer, reports [Fr] on a manifestation that took place on Sunday 13 September in the outskirts of Casablanca, by young Moroccans who decided to organize a picnic braving the ban on eating in public during Ramadan, only to find hundreds of policemen...
Syria: A Week Against Everything and Anything
The Syrian blogosphere is frequently one of dissent. This week, following a post decrying the practice of masturbation and encouraging bloggers to join in a campaign against, the blogosphere exploded in a flurry of opposition, creating their own (often sarcastic) campaigns. Jillian C. York brings us the story.
USA: 30 New York Mosques in 30 Days
Two young men in New York City, Aman Ali and Bassam Tariq, are nearing the end of their journey to document visits to "30 mosques in 30 days" on their blog of the same name.
Bangladesh: Advice On Fasting
Sadiq Alam at Inspirations and Creative Thoughts posts a sufi master's advice on fasting.
Arab World: Healing the Rifts of 9/11
As the United States remembers the tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001, the rest of the world is remembering too. For many Arabs, that day marked a change in mutual perception. It fundamentally changed how the world perceives Arabs and how Arabs see the world.
Palestine: Ramadan in Gaza
Palestinian Nazek Abu Rahma posts photographs showing scenes from the Holy month of Ramadan in Gaza here
Egyptians React to the Sudanese “Sin”
Sudanese UN female employee Lubna Hussein faced threats of imprisonment and flogging for the “sin” of wearing trousers in Khartoum - and her saga is far from over. Marwa Rakha sums up the reactions of Egyptian bloggers in this post.
Azerbaijan: 9/11 and Islam
A day before posting, Scary Azeri tweeted that she needed to sleep on today's entry for the anniversary of 9/11. To mark the tragic event, the blogger takes a look at perceptions towards Islam in Azerbaijan and the U.K.
Palestine: The Experience Of Ramadan In Gaza
Bloggers in Gaza write about how people are managing this Ramadan, and describe how traditions are being kept alive.
Egypt: Prison Awaits Those who don't Fast in Ramadan
For the first time in Egypt, the Ministry of Interior arrests Muslims who eat and drink in public during the fasting month of Ramadan. Marwa Rakha has the story.
Egypt: Two Coptic Orthodox Church Channels
After a series of failed attempts to launch a television channel for the Coptic faith in Egypt over the past 15 years, two channels were authorized and four more are in the pipeline.
