Egypt: Meeting the Muslim Brotherhood

Abu Aardvark, aka Marc Lynch, was in Cairo – where he met with Muslim Brotherhood officials and bloggers. Read his take on the visit here.

Russia: Moscow Migrants; Practicing Believers

According to the Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, “nearly two out of every three Muscovites now favor expelling [migrants] from the city and blocking any new arrivals.” Window on Eurasia has more on this – and also on the ratio of practicing Muslims to practicing Orthodox Christians...

Saudi Arabia: Women Activists on the Move

“I don’t know why, but apparently we get a lot of our important decisions made during the last ten days of Ramadhan…I guess our government is always inspired by the spirituality of those holy days,” writes Saudi Jeans, who adds that women activists “are planning to take field trips in...

Egypt: 80 Lashes for Spreading Rumours

“During a religious celebration commemorating the eve Quran descended from heaven, Mohamed Sayid Tantawi, sheikh of Azhar mosque preached a crowd of state officials including President Mubarak, finding religious grounds for whipping rumor spreaders 80 times,” writes Egyptian blogger Nora Younis.

Bahrain: Eid Mubarak

“(L)et me wish you all a very good, healthy, peaceful and prosperous Eid enjoyed with your kith and kin. Spare a thought too to those less fortunate and try to make their Eid enjoyable too,” writes Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif.

Bahrain: Getting Ready for Eid

“Yes, another Ramadan has come and went, and Eid is very nearly upon us. Everywhere seems to be busy; the shops are full at night with people rushing the last few minutes to buy their new Eid clothes,” writes Bahraini blogger Ammaro, who describes the scene at this time of...

Bahrain: Interview with Kuwaiti Atheist

Bahraini blogger Esra'a interviews an Arab atheist from Kuwait in this post.

India: In Madinah and Makkah

Indian Muslims on visiting Madinah and Makkah during Ramadan.

Pakistan: Blog-o-detention

I must begin this post by extending my sincere apologies to the readers of GV for my disappearance of the GV radar for the past several months.. Unfortunately, for me I do not have valid excuse for this prolonged absence except to tell you the truth. I was abducted by...

Trinidad and Tobago: Eid-ul-Fitr sweets

With Eid-ul-Fitr approaching, Lifespan of a Chenette thinks of the many sweet delicacies that Muslim households in Trinidad will be preparing the celebrate the holiday.

Bahrain: Non-Sectarian Mosque

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif unveils plans to build the country's first non-sectarian mosque in this post.

Turkey is Typing…Ramadan Edition

Ramadan is in its last week and it seems only fitting to hear from the Turkish part of the Middle East region as to their impressions of this holy month. Join us as we talk about the perils of early morning drumming, censoring food on TV, the running of the cows, and perhaps the best ice cream in the world!

Pakistan: Faith and Fasting

DeOwl has an interesting post exploring the link between faith and fasting during Ramzan as she finds herself in the US, alone.

Egypt: A Visit to an Elderly House

Ramadan is the month of “good”. That’s how Muslims regard it worldwide. So don’t get amazed if you found various forms for “good deeds” performed amongst middle age youth here or there, writes Eman, who translates a post by an Egyptian doctor who pays a visit to an elderly house.

Arabeyes: Egyptian Blog Review

Egyptian blogs were abuzz with activity, despite their show of solidarity with a strike by a number of newspapers, which didn't appear in protest against the jailing of Egyptian journalists today. Our review today talks about the strike, the anniversary of the October 6 war with Israel and the detention of an Egyptian Shiite among other topics, writes Tarek Amr.

Sri Lanka: Lanka and Ravana

While the controversy over Adam's Bridge continues, in Sri Lanka, the mythological character of Ravana is undergoing a process of Sinhalization. More at Transcurrents.

Pakistan: Ramzan Memories

All Things Pakistan walks down memory lane, and remembers Ramzan in Pakistan in the years gone by.

China: From Mao To Buddha

During the cultural revolution, Dazhai (in Shanxi Province) was a model rural collective to show the superiority of socialist China. Recently a large Buddhist temple has been built in the village. Joel Martinsen from DANWEI translated an article from South Wind to explain how the worship of Mao turned into...

Korea: High School Student and Religious Freedom

A teenager’s struggle for religious freedom over three years achieved victory this month. He was a student at a Christian high school and had to attend chapel regularly. He requested not to take the classes, but his request was turned down by the school. His fight against the school has...

Qatar: Sunbathing in Ramadan

Gypsy was shocked to find someone sunbathing in a bikini in the parking lot of a popular shopping centre in Doha. She writes that “laying out in your bikini in a busy parking lot with labourers and women in hijab and abaya walking by you DURING RAMADAN is the most...

Blogger Ampontan offers an essay on the history of a matsuri (festival) which changed after the war, and discusses the aims of festivals. Not serious politics, but it's an interesting view of how “traditions” can be born from specific conditions.