The wave of anti-Christian violence Simon Tisdall guardian.co.uk, Coptic Christians protest in Egypt after an attack in which gunmen opened fire on a crowd of churchgoers. Photograph: Khaled El-Fiqi/EPA A recent wave of violent attacks on Christian worshippers and churches in countries across the Muslim world is intensifying concern that continuing military conflict, cultural friction and economic imbalances embroiling Islam and the west are fuelling a parallel rise in religious intolerance at grassroots level. The increase in tensions is seen as particularly disturbing in countries such as Egypt where Islam and Christianity have a centuries-old history of largely peaceful co-existence. … Continue reading Christians in the Muslim world are becoming scapegoats as anger about the ‘crusader west’ takes hold

I am guilty of facial hair profiling Despite having experienced my share of ethnic profiling, I have to confess to my own prejudice – and it involves big beards Sarfraz Manzoor guardian.co.uk, Big-bearded and hardline: Muslim cleric Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed. Photograph: STR/Reuters A damp weekday morning and I am shambling through the Arndale Centre in Luton, on my way to meet a friend and already running late. In my peripheral vision I half-see a man who is walking towards me. He sees me, does a double take in apparent recognition, and stops in front of me. I can see … Continue reading Are we becoming ‘rascist’ against bearded guys?

More prisons are not the answer Instead of pumping more public money into prisons, we should invest in education, health, and community programmes Juliet Lyon guardian.co.uk, Politicians rarely agree publicly about crime and punishment. But today the justice select committee presents a united view on how to cut crime. Following a substantive two-year inquiry, it states that the next government, of whichever stripe, must invest in prevention and rehabilitation instead of pouring scarce public monies into an unsustainable prison building programme. In its report, Cutting crime: the case for justice re-investment, the committee shows how justice policy has swerved off-track. … Continue reading Abolish prisons in the UK!?

Cristiano Ronaldo’s six-pack makes it clear that being reduced to a quivering jelly of insecurity is no longer just for women Paul MacInnes guardian.co.uk Cristiano Ronaldo poses to promote the new Emporio Armani underwear and Armani Jeans campaigns. Photograph: Mers Alas/Marcus Piggot/AP Last night I dreamed of Cristiano Ronaldo’s abs. Resembling a freshly upturned tray of brioche, they pursued me through my sleep. Encounters with lost loves were disrupted, anxiety dreams intensified, even the falling dream was brought to an end by a crash landing on an Iberian six-pack. I wonder if I was alone. Ronaldo, he’s the world’s most … Continue reading Ronaldo and the planet of the abs

A hardline Islamist who teaches and preaches at a leading London university is alleged to have mentored a British suicide bomber. Reza Pankhurst, who served a prison sentence in Egypt, works at the London School of Economics and regularly speaks at student prayer meetings organised by the campus’ Islamic Society, according to the Times. He is a senior member of the Hizb ut-Tahrir group. It has been claimed by the Standard newspaper that he played a key role in radicalising Omar Sharif who died after an attempted attack on a nightclub in Tel Aviv in 2003. Freed: Reza Pankhurst (right) … Continue reading Revealed: Islamist preacher who lectures at top London university ‘groomed suicide bomber’

West Yorkshire nail bomb maker jailed for 11 years Terrance Gavan pleaded guilty to 22 charges A man who admitted making nail bombs at his West Yorkshire home has been jailed for 11 years. Terrance Gavan, 38, who the Old Bailey heard showed a strong hostility towards immigrants, was arrested by police in a raid at his home in May 2009. The bus driver’s arsenal of weapons and explosives included home-made shotguns, pen guns and pistols. Gavan, from Batley, also pleaded guilty to six counts of having or collecting documents useful in terrorism. Sentencing Gavan, Mr Justice Calvert-Smith said his … Continue reading BNP bomb maker jailed for 11 years

By Mike Rudin The Conspiracy Files The face of Bin Laden has become instantly recognisable around the world Osama Bin Laden died eight years ago during the battle for Tora Bora in Afghanistan, either from a US bomb or from a serious kidney disease. Or so the conspiracy theory goes. The theory that has developed on the web since 9/11 is that US intelligence services are manufacturing the Bin Laden statements to create an evil bogeyman, to justify the so-called war on terror in Afghanistan, Iraq and back at home. So is the world’s most wanted man still alive? For … Continue reading Is Osama Bin Laden dead or alive?

J Sri Raman ‘Black’ was based partly on the life of Helen Keller, and she certainly did not represent a vast majority of the visually disabled. ‘3 Idiots’ deals with the distress of students forced into educational grooves, but they do not make a majority of their age group either Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Paa’ and Aamir Khan’s ‘3 Idiots’ rank as the two top Bollywood blockbusters to be released last month. The box-office figures — running into billions of rupees by now — are of far more than financial interest. The big hits of India’s Hindi film industry have often served … Continue reading Of films and fairytales — Bollywoodlandwalajis

Zeeshan Suhail The feeling I had, moreover, was of delight at being able to create something from my own two hands, using my own mind and common senses. Bachelors are not handicapped after all Living the single life is often referred to as living the “high life”, one of freedom, nonchalance and dare I say it, decadence! As a bachelor, I can do many things and not worry about familial repercussions. Not being married gives we single guys the luxury of looking after only ourselves, yet it still makes cooking food a bit of an ordeal, especially for the average … Continue reading A bachelor and his culinary excursions (can someone get this guy a wife?)