Religion News on the Web
Selected religion-related news from around the Web
October 16, 2011
- Newsweek
Newsweek: Intolerant Arab spring
The recent clashes in Cairo between peaceful Coptic protestors and Egyptian
security forces are only the latest sad example of an old and recurring
phenomenon: persecution of native non-Muslim minority communities in
the world of Islam.
October 15, 2011
- The New York Times
NYT: Afghan symbol of identity is subject to search
Straight-backed, his bearing almost regal, Malik
Niaz, 82, entered the Afghan president’s compound this month, proudly
wearing his best turban: a silk one from Turkestan in the north of the
country, gray and black and white, its long tail draped gracefully over
his shoulder.
October 14, 2011
- The Economist
Economist: Now is the time
“ALL of us were there, throwing stones, moving dead bodies. We did
everything. There was no difference between men and women.” So says
Asmaa Mahfouz, an Egyptian activist, remembering the protests that
felled Hosni Mubarak at the beginning of the year.
October 13, 2011
- The Associated Press
AP: Islamic hard-liners attack rival shrines in Libya
Islamic hard-liners have attacked about a
half-dozen shrines in and around Tripoli belonging to Muslim sects whose
practices they see as sacrilegious, raising religious tensions as Libya
struggles to define its identity after Moammar Gadhafi's ouster.
October 12, 2011
- The New York Times
NYT: Egyptian Generals plead for understanding after death of coptic protesters
Under mounting criticism at home and abroad over clashes with troops that killed two dozen Coptic Christians on Sunday, Egypt’s
military rulers issued an extraordinary plea for sympathy on Wednesday,
urging Egyptians to understand that soldiers in riot gear and armored
trucks had been terrified of an angry crowd of demonstrators.
October 11, 2011
- The Globe and Mail
Globe and Mail: Captured Israeli soldier to be traded for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners
In a deal that may signal future co-operation between enemies, Israel
and the militant Palestinian movement Hamas have agreed to an exchange
of prisoners in which a young soldier, Gilad Shalit, virtually adopted
by his entire nation, will be coming home after more than five years
captivity as a hostage in Gaza.
October 09, 2011
- The Korea Times
Korea Times: Religious persecution in Pakistan
Stability in Central Asia is threatened by Pakistan’s
slow surrender to extremism. Many of Pakistan’s problems are rooted in
the spread of hateful and intolerant beliefs.
October 09, 2011
- Reuters
Reuters: Egypt generals ban using religious slogans in vote
Egypt's ruling
military council has amended election rules to ban the use of religious
slogans, a move the Muslim Brotherhood said on Sunday may prompt it to
reconsider using its traditional campaign phrase "Islam is the
solution".
October 06, 2011
- Agence France-Presse
AFP: Saudi cleric asks Shiite protesters to avoid arms
A Saudi Shiite village where protesters clashed with police was
calm Wednesday as a prominent cleric urged his followers to avoid the
use of firearms and fingers of blame were pointed at Iran.
October 04, 2011
- The Toronto Star
Toronto Star: Bomb blast in Somalia targets students
A massive truck bomb in Mogadishu killed dozens of students Tuesday,
shattering an uneasy calm in the country’s capital and fulfilling the
threat made by Shabab militants of a return to guerrilla warfare.
October 03, 2011
- The Weekly Standard
Weekly Standard: The people, no
On September 9, a mob of Egyptian protesters stormed the Israeli embassy here, necessitating the emergency evacuation of the ambassador, most of his staff, and their families.