Patriarch Bartholomew I, center left, the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, conducts a service at the Sumela Monastery in Trabzon, northeastern Turkey, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010. Orthodox Christians held a rare Mass at an ancient monastery in Turkey after the government allowed worship there once a year in a gradual loosening of restrictions on religious expression. – AP Photo SUMELA MONASTERY: Europe Papadopolous’s grandparents were children when they fled their village in northeast Turkey and settled in Greece almost 90 years ago, yet she still felt she was in exile. Papadopolous, 45, was one of thousands of Orthodox … Continue reading Orthodox flock to once-banned holy site in Turkey

Obama Redefines His Previous Support for Mosque at Ground Zero by: Margaret Talev  |  McClatchy Newspapers | Report President Barack Obama. (Photo: NASA/Bill Ingalls) Washington – President Barack Obama sought Saturday to draw a distinction between supporting a Muslim group’s right to build a mosque two blocks from Ground Zero in New York – a right he championed in a speech the night before – and thinking the project is a good idea. “I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there,” he told reporters in Panama City, Fla. He, … Continue reading Obama Redefines His Previous Support for Mosque

The writer is a director at the South Asia Free Media Association, Lahore khaled.ahmed@tribune.com.pk It is often said that Muslims in the 21st century have rejected modernity. What they are in fact rejecting is the process of suiting themselves to changing circumstances. There are two kinds of thinking: one that seeks to change in order to relate to times and one that seeks to change the world to suit its tenets. There are two ways principles can be formulated. One is to establish them on the basis of facts; the other, on the basis of doctrine. The latter necessitates coercion. … Continue reading Why Muslims reject modernity

The writer is author of Military Inc and a visiting professor at Johns Hopkins University, US ayesha.siddiqa@tribune.com.pk The Awami Jamhoori Party’s march to save “Jinnah’s Pakistan” is commendable. It denoted mobilisation of civil society against violence and intolerance. The procession ended at Data Darbar, which is considered a symbol of the country’s liberal Islamic ethos or culture of religious multi-polarity. But are we quite clear about whether this is the kind of liberal Islamic tradition that Jinnah and other founding leaders of Pakistan opted for? There was quite a bit of confusion regarding the type of religious ideology that the … Continue reading Saving Jinnah’s Pakistan

Operational aspects of ongoing US military relief effort * General Nagata deems it an honour to be assisting military forces in Pakistan to get to people in need and to render whatever assistance possible By Ali K Chishti The US Department of Defence organised a briefing on Friday by Brigadier General Michael Nagata, deputy commander of the Office of the Defence Representative, Pakistan, on the US relief response to the recent floods in Pakistan. Following is the transcript of the conversation: Q: General, can you talk about the transition from the army pilots that have been flying missions from Afghanistan … Continue reading US General Nagata assisting in flood relief

Taliban Leaders Should Be Prosecuted for War Crimes Posted by: Rafia Zakaria, Sanam Gul was a widow, 35 years old and pregnant.  According to news reports she was kept in captivity for three days before being shot to death in a public trial by the Afghan Taliban.  The execution took place in the Qadis District of the rural Baghdis province in Western Afghanistan. The “court” that ordered the punishment, found Sanam Gul, also known as Bibi Sanubar, guilty of having an illicit affair, proof of which was her pregnancy.  She was sentenced to 200 lashes and then executed.  The punishment was carried out … Continue reading Mullahs Should Be Prosecuted for War Crimes

Jonathan Franzen picks up the torch for US literary tradition In June a prominent critic proclaimed American literary fiction dead. But last week Time dared to differ, putting one of its biggest names, Jonathan Franzen, on its cover, as he returns to the fray with a new book – and ecstatic reviews William Skidelsky The Observer, Sunday 15 August 2010 Article history Jonathan Franzen, who is returning to the literary scene with his new novel, Freedom. Photograph: Felix ClayLast week an event took place that hasn’t occurred since 2000: a living author appeared on the cover of Time magazine. The … Continue reading Jonathan Franzen

Engagement with Iran By Huma Yusuf dawn.com While Iran flexes its regional muscles, Islamabad should coin a coherent policy for engagement with Tehran. — Photo by Reuters The floodwaters in some parts are beginning to subside. As the Indus returns to the confines of its banks, pressing issues such as extremism, the energy crisis and regional stability will start to creep back into the headlines. Moving on from this crisis, Islamabad will have to balance rehabilitation with the ripple effect the floods will have on matters as diverse as the economy, security and foreign policy. Without foresight and determination at … Continue reading Pakistan and engagement with Iran