Theology School Becomes 1st Accredited US Seminary to Train Muslim & Jewish Theologians IslamToday / Agencies 9 June 2010 In recognition of the growing diversity of America’s religious landscape, a California institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church will add clerical training for Muslims and Jews to its curriculum this fall, to become, in a sense, the first truly multi-faith American seminary. Though the seminary will be the first accredited institution to train clergy members of multiple faiths, its expanded mission could cost it financially. Earlier this year, the church suspended its financial support of the seminary, an amount that … Continue reading US Seminary to Train Muslim & Jewish Theologians

Prince Charles Delivers Oxford Speech on Islam & the Environment IslamToday / Agencies 10 June 2010 Speaking at the Sheldonian Theatre, in a lecture to mark the 25th anniversary of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies of which he is patron, Prince Charles gave a speech on Islam and the environment. In an hour-long speech, the heir to the British throne argued that humanity’s destruction of the world was contrary to the scriptures of all religions – but particularly those of Islam. He said the current “division” between humanity and nature had been caused not just by industrialisation, but also … Continue reading HRH Prince Charles – Islam & the Environment

Why Bollywood’s film about Hitler is profoundly misguided Indian directors have as much right to make movies about Hitler as anyone else, but a forthcoming film about the Nazi dictator’s ‘love’ for the country displays a shocking ignorance of history No dear friend of India … Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. Photograph: Bob Thomas/Popperfoto/GettyA first-time Indian director, Rakesh Ranjan Kumar, has announced that he will make a movie about Adolf Hitler. Dear Friend Hitler stars Indian actors Anupam Kher and Neha Dhupia as Hitler and Eva Braun, and will focus on what the director claims was “Hitler’s love for India and … Continue reading Bollywood film about Hitler?

Scottish separatist found guilty of Heathrow bomb scares Militant ex-soldier founded group that issued death threats against Margaret Thatcher and Prince Charles Severin Carrell, Scotland correspondent guardian.co.uk, Friday 11 June 2010 18.03 BST Article history Adam Busby, the SNLA leader, in an undated photoAn infamous hardline Scottish nationalist who has lived in exile in Dublin since the 1980s has been convicted of making hoax bomb threats against transatlantic planes flying from Heathrow airport. Adam Busby, 61, was found guilty of sending the hoax threats warning of alleged bombs on board two aircraft in May 2006 by a jury at Dublin … Continue reading Scottish ex-soldier founded group that issued death threats

Anwar al-Awlaki: MI5 warns of the al-Qaeda preacher targeting Britain Young British Muslims are being groomed to carry out terrorist attacks in this country by Anwar al-Awlaki, a radical al-Qaeda preacher based in the Middle East, it can be disclosed. By Duncan Gardham and Con Coughlin TELEGRAPH CO UK Anwar al-Awlaki has ‘cemented his position as one of the leading English-speaking jihadi ideologues’ Photo: AP The security services fear that a new generation of British extremists is being radicalised by Awlaki, who recruited the Detroit plane bomber. They are concerned that Awlaki’s followers could unleash a wave of easily planned … Continue reading Anwar al-Awlaki targeting Britain?

The convictions of Popovic and Beara matter because they bear symbolic witness to the genocide of Bosnian Muslims Slavenka Drakulić guardian.co.uk, Thursday 10 June 2010 18.00 BST Article history A Bosnian Muslim woman prays at the memorial wall with the names of the victims at the Potocari Memorial Center near Srebrenica. Photograph: Elvis BarukcicTwo sentences of life imprisonment, just passed on Bosnian Serb officers Vujadin Popovic and Ljubisa Beara, are the most severe ever delivered by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The two men were convicted of genocide – that is, for the massacre of about … Continue reading Truth is justice for Srebrenica

Hermits should get stuck in Hermits can act as a valuable reminder of the spiritual dimension of life – but what’s the point of them if they’re hidden away? Naseem Khan guardian.co.uk, Friday 11 June 2010 09.00 BST Article history It came as something of a surprise to learn that there could be around 200 hermits living in the British Isles. Or so it would seem from the membership of the Fellowship of Solitaries. Karen Markham‘s attempts to resist eviction from her isolated cottage lifted the issue of withdrawal and the invisible 200 briefly above the radar, before they all … Continue reading Hermits can act as a valuable reminder of the spiritual dimension of life

Using social scientists in military human terrain teams blurs the lines between independent academia and partisan militarism James Denselow guardian.co.uk, Friday 11 June 2010 13.30 BST Article history General Stanley McChrystal believes the use of civilian, not military, power is key to the success of the new counterinsurgency. Photograph: Nacho Doce/ReutersDavid Cameron says Afghanistan is his number one priority. The doubling of operational allowance and the conveyance of messages from the England team may win the prime minister the hearts and minds of our troops, but the reality is that little has changed in the larger strategic picture. More important … Continue reading Scholar soldiers in Afghanistan are on dangerous terrain

Labour allowed counter-terrorism powers to be used unlawfully. We are committed to rebuilding the public’s trust in them Theresa May guardian.co.uk, Thursday 10 June 2010 17.30 BST Article history Thousands of people have been stopped in the street and searched unlawfully under anti-terrorism powers. Photograph: David Parry/PAThe first job of any government is to keep its people safe. If we are to achieve that, the police need to be able to stop and search suspected terrorists. But there is no excuse for an abuse of these powers. I have discovered that, under the last government, counter-terrorism stop and search powers … Continue reading Stop and search policy will be robustly reviewed

HUM HINDUSTANI: Of Bhopal and books —J Sri Raman Moro is all heart about Sonia and all harsh about her Congress mandarins. This may explain what one hears about their different reactions. Sonia, say insiders, is for a less belligerent stand on the book. It must be hoped that she has her way Talk of the quirks of fate. Today must have been a time for India to remember him and his book about a tragedy that has just turned more terrible. Instead, he appears before us now as an author facing official fury for another work of his. Italian … Continue reading Of Bhopal and books