We need more than small talk Tariq Ramadan and Hamza Yusuf must tackle Islamic reform head-on in Oxford next week Yahya Birt The Guardian Next week in Oxford, two of western Islam‘s leading religious thinkers – Hamza Yusuf and Tariq Ramadan – will come together for the first time to discuss the hotly debated topic of Islamic reform. Does it matter? And why should we pay attention to what they have to say? For the generation of western-born Muslims who came of age in Europe and North America in the 90s, Yusuf and Ramadan are leading figureheads in Islamic revivalism … Continue reading Tariq Ramadan and Hamza Yusuf must tackle Islamic reform head-on in Oxford next week

loonwatch.com Yesterday, May 20th was the Draw Muhammed Day which is extending into today, ostensibly put together to defend freedom of expression/speech. The original creators of the day have backed out, including Molly Norris, due to the tremendous amounts of bigotry and hate that it engendered, but others continued with the campaign. Taking a glance at the Facebook page, most of the freedumb expressions are hateful and bigoted depictions of Muhammad meant to anger Muslims. Is it a coincidence that the ones who are reveling most in this day are racists and Islamophobes? Robert Spencer and Pamela Geller have both … Continue reading Draw Muhammad Day Predictably Descends into Hate Fest

loonwatch.com My Take: Everyone Chalk Mohammed By Greg Epstein, Special to CNN If I told you groups of atheist and Muslim students around the country have been breaking out boxing gloves, and the outlines of bodies have been marked in chalk on the ground, you’d worry, right? And you should, though fortunately it doesn’t mean anyone has been physically hurt yet. Rather, it means the latest in a series of controversies over drawing the Prophet Mohammed has arrived: “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day,” scheduled for Thursday, May 20, has gained tens of thousands of online followers, riling fears and anger on … Continue reading My Take: Everyone Chalk Mohammed

A British policeman has won an international award for his database of UFO sightings by UK police officers. telegraph.co.uk Previous 2 of 2 Images Next Gary Heseltine has won an international award for his database of UFO sightings by UK police officers A UFO sighting Photo: ALAMY Gary Heseltine’s fascination with the unexplained in British skies began at the age of 15, when he spotted a mysterious bright light while walking his first girlfriend home. The 49-year-old father-of-two picked up the 2010 Disclosures Award in Washington for his website, prufospolicedatabase.co.uk, which he launched in 2002. He said: “Winning the award was a total … Continue reading British policeman wins UFO investigation award

The Russian investment vehicle that bought a $200m stake in Facebook last year is preparing to buy stakes in dozens of well-known internet companies as Russia turns to the internet to lead its future prosperity. By Rupert Neate telegraph.co.uk Yuri Milner, chief executive of Digital Sky Technologies Photo: Getty Images Digital Sky Technologies (DST) has already invested $1bn (£693m) buying up stakes in web companies including Zynga, the makers of the popular online social game FarmVille, and acquiring AOL’s messenger service, ICQ, for $188m. Yuri Milner, chief executive, said: “There are a few dozen companies globally that we are following. … Continue reading Facebook is just the first step, say Russians

A mum-to-be is in little doubt that her baby boy is doing fine – after he gave her the thumbs-up in an amazing hospital scan. telegraph.co.uk The baby gave the thumbs-up sign in the 20-week scan taken at Wythenshawe Hospital. Photo: MEN Marie Boswell, 35, says friends and family have been amazed by her son’s distinctive ‘ok’ sign in the 20-week scan taken at Wythenshawe Hospital. Marie, of Wythenshawe, Manchester, said: “It’s really funny, the thumb is so clear – we can’t believe it. “I have big hands but nothing on the scale of his – he looks like he’s … Continue reading Baby gives mum thumbs-up in womb

VIEW: The protests, the ban and the faithful! –Junaid Zuberi We have left no stone unturned to prove that we are indeed a community that believes in violence and that does not have an iota of tolerance and forgiveness The Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered a temporary ban on Facebook and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) went several steps ahead by first announcing complete blockage of the popular networking site for an indefinite period followed by a ban on YouTube. The nation is swimming in the ocean of ignorance characterised by unchecked emotions. In our quest to prove our righteousness … Continue reading Mullahism and Facebook

by Asif Akhtar http://www.dawn.com So looks like its double-whammy for Pakistani entertainment enthusiasts this time. First we get beaten out of the Twenty20 World Cup after having our hopes raised to unbelievable heights, prompting people to make all sorts of sour remarks on Facebook to vent their frustration. Then this whole high-stakes emotional censorship bonanza prompts to block Facebook for a whole week! Oh where will disappointed sports fans and withdrawal-ridden Facebook addicts go to now that the pleasant lull of the Facebook Newsfeed and the unmistakable sense of constantly being connected to all your friends have been stripped off … Continue reading What do Facebook and cricket have in common?

by Zeresh http://www.dawn.com Before yesterday’s ban on Facebook, I would have laughed off the idea of being addicted to a social networking site. Really. It couldn’t have come down to this. Or has it? Completely supporting the cause of the ban, despite myself, in the span of an hour, I found myself typing http://www.facebook.com in my browser at least twice. The address, for very obvious reasons, is proudly displayed as a bookmark on my toolbar but I still typed each letter out, prolonging it painstakingly, as if to give the Lahore High Court enough time to revert its decision. I … Continue reading Diary of a closet Facebooker

By Irfan Husain dawn.com Hamid Mir’s connections with Islamic militants are hardly a secret. –File Photo When you make a name and a (very good) living from the spoken word, it’s hard to make the case that a recording of your voice is a forgery. This is the dilemma Hamid Mir, the popular anchor of the TV chat show Capital Talk, is facing today. Having heard the leaked conversation between a person who sounds uncannily like the TV personality, and another who is apparently very close to the terrorists then holding Khalid Khwaja, I will take a lot of convincing … Continue reading Anchors, spooks and jihadis