Promoting Shared Values among People of Different Religions – May 11th Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

MUSLIM WORLD LEAGUE (MWL), PROMOTES COMMON VALUES AMONG PEOPLES OF ALL FAITHS The Muslim World League (MWL), has progressed the work of the League since coming under the leadership of the new Secretary-General. Dr Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Issa has … Continue reading Promoting Shared Values among People of Different Religions – May 11th Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Islamic Peacemaking in Dialogue and in Practice

INTRODUCTION A large majority of Muslim scholars, religious leaders, NGOs, and governments denounce religiously-motivated violence and they condemn and detest the abuse of their religion. Evidence of this can be seen in Muslim leaders’ widespread condemnation of terrorism and religiously motivated violence around the world. With the rise of radicalism and unprecedented conflicts in Muslim-majority countries, paradoxically, the world has witnessed astonishing efforts of many Muslim organizations and leaders to promote more frequent and effective dialogues to enhance mutual understanding and create practical steps to improve relations. Efforts are also underway in many places to vigorously educate Muslim youth about the core Islamic … Continue reading Islamic Peacemaking in Dialogue and in Practice

Bringing people of different faiths together to solve the world’s problems is a noble goal – but it’s hard to know what it achieves

Katherine O’Lone, University of Cambridge and Julian Hargreaves, University of Cambridge An estimated 84% of the global population identifies with a religion. This is over 6.5 billion people. Among thousands of world religions, Christianity is the largest, with 2.3 billion … Continue reading Bringing people of different faiths together to solve the world’s problems is a noble goal – but it’s hard to know what it achieves

Taliban leader goes missing in UAE

  Mutasim confirmed to be missing in the UAE. PHOTO: FILE ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan on Monday officially confirmed that a senior Taliban leader, Mullah Agha Jan Mutasim, who had started dialogue with Kabul-backed negotiators in Dubai, has been missing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). After a mysterious silence for nearly two weeks, the Afghan Foreign Ministry on Monday confirmed that Mutasim is missing. “The Afghan government confirms that Agha Jan Mutasim has disappeared in the UAE and we are talking to UAE senior officials to determine his fate,” the Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Ahmed Shakaib Mustaghni said in Kabul. “The talks, unfortunately, have … Continue reading Taliban leader goes missing in UAE

The many shades of McWorld

Some years ago, in response to a rather strong piece on US shenanigans in the Middle East, an American reader wrote back: “Why do you hate America?” As some of my perceptive readers might have already deduced, I get loads of fanmail in response to my weekly rants, especially from my own kind and most of it not most flattering. Yet the accusation ‘why do you hate America’ from an all-American white reader was a little disconcerting. For I do not see myself as an America phobe. The influence of American literature, Hollywood, culture and their collective glorification of ambition, excellence, grit and … Continue reading The many shades of McWorld

US ‘peace process’ charade plays on

As the US-imposed April 29 deadline for a “framework” agreement between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority looms, time is also running out for the American administration on the issue. The Barack Obama administration needs to conjure up an escape route to avoid embarrassment if the talks are to fail.  The Americans were likely aware when this latest process launched that peace under the current circumstances is unattainable. Israel’s ruling coalition is adamantly anti-Arab, anti-peace and against any kind of agreement that falls short of endorsing the Israel’s apartheid-like occupation of Palestine.  Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies on … Continue reading US ‘peace process’ charade plays on

Delusional reality of Pakistani peace

By Sameera Rashid Pakistani political parties of different ideological denominations, after attending the All Parties Conference (APC) in Karachi, issued a communique at the conclusion blaming the US war on terror and the negative fall out from drone attacks for the enormous loss of Pakistani lives in the battle against militancy. Observers have termed this a one-sided understanding of a complicated reality that will only embolden the militants. Militancy in Pakistan has been spawned by multiple factors; in fact, the rise in militancy is akin to a sedimentation process, where inundation of one layer upon another, has created a compressed … Continue reading Delusional reality of Pakistani peace

A Jewish view of Abraham, compared with that of Islam.

Originally posted on Paul Salahuddin Armstrong:
By Paul Salahuddin Armstrong As Muslims approach Eid al Adha, we are reminded of the life of a great man, prophet, patriarch and friend of God. We are of course talking about the prophet Abraham, peace be upon him, the father of monotheistic faith, later to evolve into Judaism, Christianity and Islam. I was inspired to write, after reading through an interesting article I recieved about Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him, on Chabad.org, about the nature of Abraham’s religion, from a Jewish perspective. One thing that immediately struck me, was how similar this… Continue reading A Jewish view of Abraham, compared with that of Islam.

Soldiers Have Injured Souls

Beyond PTSD: Soldiers Have Injured Souls by: Diane Silver, Miller-McCune (Photo: United States Marine Corps / Flickr) John Fisher got his soul back when he visited a cemetery in Greece. Shelley Corteville felt “rocketed” into healing when she told her story at a veterans’ retreat after 28 years of silence. Bob Cagle lost his decades-long urge to commit suicide after an encounter at a Buddhist temple. These veterans and thousands like them grapple with what some call “the war after the war” — the psychological scars of conflict. Working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and private organizations, these men and … Continue reading Soldiers Have Injured Souls