political Islam

Slama says al-Nahda is a civil party now and Jewish Tunisians’ fears are beginning to be allayed

What is Missing in our Sunni-Shi’a Conflict Narrative?

Ali R. Abootalebi | (Informed Comment) | – – The Sunni-Shi’a schism provides for different narrative and prescriptions for arriving at the ‘utopian Islamic society’ and the incoming of the Messiah, al-Mahdi. The theological, doctrinal and jurisprudential differences between the two main branches of Islam has translated into two different visions on the role of […]

Feminism

Given Fundamentalist impact on Syria, Women’s Freedoms in Doubt

contributors

How can Hizbullah liberate women if it wants to segregate them?

India

India joins 20 Muslim Countries in banning ‘Instant Divorce’

contributors

TeleSur | – – Women’s rights activists view the ruling as a step toward granting Muslim women greater equality and justice. India’s Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional a Muslim practice that reportedly allows men to “instantly divorce” their wives, a move some claim is a landmark victory for Muslim women to get greater equality. The […]

censorship

Human Rights Defenders Are Still Behind Bars in Turkey

contributors

By Zara Rahman | ( GlobalVoices.org) | – – Eight of Turkey’s most respected human rights defenders were arrested last week, along with two information technology trainers from Sweden and Germany. All ten of those arrested are still in police custody but have not been charged with any crime. The group had gathered for digital […]

Iraq

Does Sunni Fragmentation after ISIL threaten Iraq’s Future?

contributors

By Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) | – – As the date for a Baghdad summit on unity nears, the cracks are showing. It seems the country’s Sunni politicians can’t even get together to discuss their possible unity, in post-Islamic State Iraq. In mid-July, there is to be a conference in Baghdad for Sunni […]

Iraq

Can the Liberation of Mosul begin to free the Mideast from Fundamentalism?

contributors

By Balsam Mustafa | (The Conversation) | – – After an offensive lasting nearly nine months, the Iraqi prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, walked through the streets of Mosul on July 9 after Iraqi forces backed by US-led coalition airstrikes “liberated” the city from so-called Islamic State (IS). Abadi was there to congratulate security forces for […]

Iraq

Iraq Deployed Shiite Volunteers to defeat ISIL, but now has a Militia Problem

contributors

Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) |. – The Iraqi government’s next big problem is coming into view: The group of powerful Shiite Muslim militias loyal to Iran seem to want to keep the country enmeshed in regional turmoil. As the extremist group known as the Islamic State is driven out of the country, the […]

Arab World

The top 4 Challenges facing the Arab World

contributors

By Tarek Osman | (Project Syndicate) | – – LONDON – Fifty years after the Six Days War, the Middle East remains a region in seemingly perpetual crisis. So it is no surprise that, when addressing the region, politicians, diplomats, and the donor and humanitarian community typically focus on the here and now. Yet, if […]