Stories about Religion from June, 2009
Algeria: On France's burqa ban
Algerian-American blogger The Moor Next Door remarks upon France's intended burqa ban, saying, “The trouble the French may want to worry about is not the burqa as it is worn in France today, but that such a ban, as the headscarf ban has done, will make the garment a greater...
Morocco: The Last Jews of Essaouira
Reading Morocco mentions an article on the last Jews of the town of Essaouira but says of the discourse: “I am intrigued by the history of Jews in Morocco but there needs to be a little more constructive criticism of Jewish out migration from the country, especially to Israel; and...
Bangladesh: Does Qur’an really indicate big bang theory?
From Bangladesh Nirjhor Aloy discusses whether Qur’an really indicate big bang theory as claimed by some Islamic scholars.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: “Moving Buildings”
In one Bosnian town, a mosque was destroyed during the war in 1992, and a church was later built on the spot where the mosque used to be; soon, however, the church will be moved “a couple of hundred meters away so that the mosque can be ‘rebuilt’ on its...
Pakistan: Rallying Against The Taliban
The Taliban presence in the tribal areas of Pakistan has been an issue of international concern in the War on Terrorism. In the aftermath of the 2007 siege of Lal Masjid, Islamist militant leader Maulana Fazlullah and his group Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi and Baitullah Mehsud‘s Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) formed an alliance. After that...
Ukraine: Blogging Priest Scandal
Profy writes about a scandal involving a Ukraine-based Russian Orthodox priest – LJ user abbatus-mozdok – whose blogging manners were deemed inappropriate by the church officials.
Jordan: Poet Accused of Apostasy
The Jordanian blogger behind Jad's Thoughts notes that a young Jordanian poet has been accused of apostasy by Jordan's Grand Mufti. The accused poet included Qur'anic verses in romantic poetry.
Maghreb: Views on Iran
As the world watches events unfolding in Iran, Maghreb blogs have been following and commenting on the rapidly developing crisis there. Some questioned the motives behind the way western media covered the events; others criticized Mir Houssain Moussavi's reaction, but it seems that the majority are supporting protesters.
Tunisia: Confronting Religious Violence
Tunisian blogger Hamid Zanar who writes on Reflexions of a Former Muslim [Ar], launches a virulent attack against religious violence and fundamentalism amidst accounts of renewed threats made against intellectuals and teachers in his country.
East Timor: Church and homosexuality
The Roman Catholic Church has contributed to the further marginalization of gay citizens in East Timor, according to the East Timor Law and Justice Bulletin blog.
Pakistan: Mayhem in Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of the North-West Frontier Province and the administrative center for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. It is located on the edge of the Khyber Pass near the Afghan border. It is the commercial, economic, political and cultural hub of the Pashtuns in Pakistan and acts...
India: Treatment Of The Dalits
Amit Varma points to a picture by Ritesh Uttamchandani which brilliantly captures the treatment of people of the Dalit caste in India. The blogger comments: “I’d also bet that there are hazaar (thousands of) people out there who wouldn’t see anything odd in that boy sitting under the table. Such...
Pakistan: The Islam Of Taliban
Pak Tea House quotes an woman from an IDP camp in Mingawera, Swat: “People outside Swat think we had Islam and Shariat. There is no Islam in Swat. The Taliban have finished it.”
Russia: A “So-Called ‘Wahhabi’ Village”
Tanya Lokshina on “the so-called ‘Wahhabi’ village of Gudben” in Dagestan – at OpenDemocracy.net.
Africa: Gay and lesbian voices in African blogosphere
Despite being victims of politics and culture of exclusion in Africa, gays and lesbians on the continent have found a space to communicate and assert their rights: blogosphere. Haute Haiku, our new author covering LGBT blogs in Sub-Saharan Africa, points to conversations taking place in gay and lesbian blogs.
Caste Based Communities on Orkut Mirror India's Splintered Society
I have written before about Shiv Sena's militant approach towards Orkut communities critical of the party, its leader Bal Thakeray, or its Hindutva ideology. Caste-based communities on Orkut are another disturbing example of online communities mirroring the splintered nature of Indian society.
Haiti: Fr. Jean-Juste Laid to Rest
“People were there from the USA, Canada, and all over the Caribbean – people of different religions and cultures”: Haitian blogger Wadner Pierre attends the funeral of Father Gerard Jean-Juste.
Maldives: Much Ado About Anti-Burqa Laws
Hilath Online debates the recent buzz in Maldives politics on whether the government should ban Maldivian women from wearing Burqa.
Egypt: Will there be any action after Obama's Talk?
As expected, US President Barack Obama's speech was received with different and contradicting reactions in the Egyptian blogsphere. While many praised his eloquence, charisma, intelligence and awareness of Arab and Islamic history, more believed it was just the same talk they had heard from other presidents but in a better wrapping. Also, they almost all agreed they are waiting for "action" to prove the supposed "good intentions."
Middle East: Bloggers React to Obama's Address
From being described as the "self-appointed world leader" to questioning his choice of speech venue to choosing to turn a deaf ear to his speech, blogs across the Middle East are reacting to US President Barack Obama's policy speech on the Middle East just delivered in Cairo, Egypt.
India: Reaction To The Obama Speech To The Muslim World
Sujatha at Blogpourri comments on US president Barack Obama's speech to the Muslim World in Cairo University today: “the speech is most definitely worth a read and worth sharing with our children.”
