This is a valuable essay on what the Nuclear Deal means to common people in Iran. Well worth reading.
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"18 reactions and responses from world leaders to the Iran Nuclear Deal"
Follow the reactions and responses of 18 world leaders to the nuclear deal with Iran in this series of 18 photos and quotes.
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"Israeli Defense Minister says Nuclear Deal will set off a Nuclear Arms Race in the Region"
As far as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and Minister of Strategic Affairs Yuval Steinitz are concerned, this is the moment of truth. The public debate will heat up intensely over the next few days, culminating in Netanyahu’s anticipated visit to the United States in September to attend the UN General Assembly meeting.
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Erdogan: There is no Islamic terror. ISIS is not an Islamic organization and its name is not even ISIS.
The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, believes that Muslims cannot commit terror. This article by journalist Burak Bekdil examines the contradictions behind a conservative Muslim approach in Turkey. Read more.
Suspicion, Skepticism of traditional religious values and Atheism growing in the Middle East?
Mike Kuhn detects new religious currents swirling around in the souls of Middle Easterners.
"After all," some are asking, "isn't God able to see our suffering in Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Yemen, Libya and so many other countries?"
Such questions arose in Europe after World War I.
This is an interesting article with a theologian who loves to listen to people's deepest questions.
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"After all," some are asking, "isn't God able to see our suffering in Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Yemen, Libya and so many other countries?"
Such questions arose in Europe after World War I.
This is an interesting article with a theologian who loves to listen to people's deepest questions.
Read more.
52 Beautiful photos of Turkish cities and important places from the air.
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| Modern city of Izmir - Ancient city of Smyrna, home of Homer |
It will help you remember that not everything from Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, etc. is related to bombs, war, rumors of war and calamity.
Taking a few minutes to recall the beauty of God's creation and how people live on the land is breathtakingly relaxing.
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"Does Islam Prohibit Drawing Mohammed? Why the change?" - Toronto Sun
Tarek Fatah writes in the Toronto Sun:
"There is no prohibition on creating images of Prophet Mohammed in the Qur’an.
Up until the 14th century; such depictions were common in the non-Arab Muslim world."
So, what changed in the last 100 years?
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"There is no prohibition on creating images of Prophet Mohammed in the Qur’an.
Up until the 14th century; such depictions were common in the non-Arab Muslim world."
So, what changed in the last 100 years?
Read More.
Israel and IS - How will Israel face this enemy?
"Barely five months into his new job, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot has already made two significant strategic decisions. The first, announced June 15 and discussed in Al-Monitor, involved the establishment of a “cyber branch.” The second, announced July 6, concerns the establishment of a commando brigade to be headed by a colonel. This latter decision is said to be designed to bring the IDF up to speed with the modern battlefield — which no longer consists of clashes between two large armored forces, but a struggle between asymmetrical forces — with an emphasis on anti-terror warfare in densely populated areas"
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"Egypt clamps down on religious Ritual" - Al Monitor
"While many Muslims have come to anticipate the holy month as an opportunity to perform this duty, this year, some of those desiring to participate in these retreats might not get their wish. For the first time ever in Egypt, many new conditions on such activities have been imposed by the Egyptian Ministry of Awqaf in response to the current security and political situation in the country.
On May 29, the Ministry of Awqaf issued a statement on its official website warning that not following these conditions would render a itikaf assembly an illegal meeting, and subject to legal action:
On May 29, the Ministry of Awqaf issued a statement on its official website warning that not following these conditions would render a itikaf assembly an illegal meeting, and subject to legal action:
- An itikaf gathering must be held at a licensed mosque and not a neighborhood prayer meeting.
- A religious retreat must be supervised by a Ministry of Awqaf-authorized imam or preacher.
- A report must be filed by the administrative director of the mosque, indicating that said mosque is suitable for holding such assemblies.
- Participants must be inhabitants of the neighborhoods adjacent to the mosque and known by mosque administrators.
- Names and national identity card numbers must be recorded by the supervising imam at least one week prior to the commencement of the assembly.
- Any disturbances during such assemblies fall under the purview of the Awqaf department to which the mosque belongs.
- The mosque must be authorized to hold these gatherings by the Ministry of Awqaf by submitting an application to the mosque’s corresponding Awqaf department between June 6 and June 13."
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"Why Can't Muslim's Laugh about Mohammed?" - Asia Times
An excellent analysis of why Muslim's funny bone doesn't extend to any laughing matters over the person of Mohammed.
An article by David Goldman
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An article by David Goldman
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"Are all pictures of Mohammed in bad taste?"
Johanna Markind examines the reasons for not publishing any depictions of Mohammed in NYT.
"Ultimately," explained the editor "decided against it because he had to consider foremost the sensibilities of Times readers, especially its Muslim readers. To many of them, he said, depictions of the prophet Muhammad are sacrilegious; those that are meant to mock even more so." Clearly, ALL pictures of Muhammad are proscribed under this heckler's veto, NOT ONLY "those that are meant to mock."
"Of course, the Times' concern over insulting the sensibilities of its readers did not stop it from reprinting The Holy Virgin Mary painting, in which Mary is portrayed covered in elephant dung. In reality, its deep concern about reader sensibility only surfaces where offended readers may murder news editors, reporters, etc. But rather than admit that it is acting out of fear, the Times offers another rationale: nice people don't publish cartoons of Muhammad."
Read more.
"Ultimately," explained the editor "decided against it because he had to consider foremost the sensibilities of Times readers, especially its Muslim readers. To many of them, he said, depictions of the prophet Muhammad are sacrilegious; those that are meant to mock even more so." Clearly, ALL pictures of Muhammad are proscribed under this heckler's veto, NOT ONLY "those that are meant to mock."
"Of course, the Times' concern over insulting the sensibilities of its readers did not stop it from reprinting The Holy Virgin Mary painting, in which Mary is portrayed covered in elephant dung. In reality, its deep concern about reader sensibility only surfaces where offended readers may murder news editors, reporters, etc. But rather than admit that it is acting out of fear, the Times offers another rationale: nice people don't publish cartoons of Muhammad."
Read more.
"The Islamic State's First Year"
Mohammed-Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou digs very deep into Middle Eastern history and religion in order to evaluate the success and defeats of Islamic State - which is now one year old.
"...the new organization has, in the same time frame, received 21 pledges of allegiance or expression of formal support by groups around the world. Whereas al-Qaeda launched franchises over three years (2004-2007), IS could, within a year, claim provinces in Libya (Ansar al-Sharia in Derna), Nigeria (Boko Haram in Maiduguri) and Egypt (Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis in the Sinai Peninsula).
"It has also generated at least one new group, Jund al-Khilafah (Soldiers of the Caliphate) in Algeria in September 2014. Attacks were conducted in its name in France in January, in Tunisia in March, in Yemen in April and twice in Saudi Arabia in May."
Read more.
"...the new organization has, in the same time frame, received 21 pledges of allegiance or expression of formal support by groups around the world. Whereas al-Qaeda launched franchises over three years (2004-2007), IS could, within a year, claim provinces in Libya (Ansar al-Sharia in Derna), Nigeria (Boko Haram in Maiduguri) and Egypt (Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis in the Sinai Peninsula).
"It has also generated at least one new group, Jund al-Khilafah (Soldiers of the Caliphate) in Algeria in September 2014. Attacks were conducted in its name in France in January, in Tunisia in March, in Yemen in April and twice in Saudi Arabia in May."
Read more.
"Is the Islamic Caliphate here to stay?" - BBC
This BBC article answers these questions:
1. Why has the IS Caliphate attracted followers?
2. Why aren't recruits to IS' caliphate deterred by the group's extreme violence?
3 Is the caliphate expanding?
4. So is IS' caliphate getting stronger or weaker?
5. Is the caliphate here to stay?
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1. Why has the IS Caliphate attracted followers?
2. Why aren't recruits to IS' caliphate deterred by the group's extreme violence?
3 Is the caliphate expanding?
4. So is IS' caliphate getting stronger or weaker?
5. Is the caliphate here to stay?
Read More
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