Those western pundits who are always ready to assault illiberal regimes worldwide on behalf of democracy ought not to be so tongue-tied. Here is a well-educated Muslim population, heterodox and pluralist by tradition and temperament, and desperate for genuine democracy. … Continue reading →

Given that it has apparently taken Obama less than 24 hours to retreat from his relatively mild and obvious statements last night, forgive me if I am underwhelmed by what came out of the president’s mouth after weeks as a … Continue reading →

free speech and democracy anyone? Israel appears to have banned access to the hilarious song and video “Internet killed Israeli PR” by MDT (Minor Demographic Threat) which makes fun of Israel’s shoddy hasbara (propaganda) after its attack on the Gaza … Continue reading →

Esposito said politicians’ fearmongering over Muslims was similar to exploitation of fears that the country was being swamped by a tide of illegal immigrants. “Islamophobia is not just about religion. It’s about people who are of colour and a whole … Continue reading →

?”The plan for a mosque just blocks from the World Trade Center site has ignited a national debate about the limits of tolerance and the symbolism of ground zero.” — the limits of tolerance??? Full article.

By now, the recurring failure in the Pakistan-U.S. alliance should be obvious: The Pakistani military views it primarily as a means of reducing the threat from India, and the United States does not. But perhaps the United States should. The … Continue reading →

Had these incidents been in Taliban-controlled parts of Afghanistan, or had the victims been Tibetans revolting against Chinese rule, we would have called it a massacre. But India’s great “soft power” is that the world wants to think the best … Continue reading →

testimony by angana chatterji on human rights abuses committed by the indian state in kashmir.

reposting coz it’s still v relevant and coz i like her so much.

Thirteen-year-old Rachel Goodall, of West Haven, holds a sign on Clinton Avenue across from the Bridgeport Islamic Society Friday August 6, 2010. Goodall was among a group of protestors from an organization called Operation Save America. Flip Benham, of Dallas, … Continue reading →

“The historian’s task is not to disrupt for the sake of it, but it is to tell what is almost always an uncomfortable story and explain why the discomfort is part of the truth we need to live well and … Continue reading →

The TIME report comes on the heels of a massive leak of US intelligence secret files by whistleblower website Wikileaks, that dealt yet another blow to Washington’s efforts to maintain public support for the war. A less publicised leak by … Continue reading →

the persecution of the roma people in europe has some disturbing historical echoes – france in the front line of the fight against “the other,” of course.

India’s carte blanche to kill Kashmiris… “Compared to a decade ago, no one is willing to annoy India… It carries too much weight globally. In this region, the world’s eyes are on Afghanistan, not Kashmir. This time around the troubles … Continue reading →

?”This screaming, writhing non-existence is not new to the Kashmiri. Its landscape, just like poverty in India, has been used for centuries to work through different narratives. It fits well in most, albeit minus its inhabitants who smudge the scene. … Continue reading →

Gerecht first revealed this Israeli-neocon fantasy as early as 2000, before the Iranian nuclear program was even taken seriously, in an essay written for a book published by the Project for a New American Century. Gerecht argued that, if Iran … Continue reading →

deeply disturning! “Arab Negev News publisher Ata Abu Madyam supplied me with a series of photos he took of the civilians in action. They depicted Israeli high school students who appeared to have volunteered as members of the Israeli police … Continue reading →

with all the “burka” talk in this article and the associated hysteria, what struck me most was this: Since donning the burka, the woman said she had been taunted by neighbours who called her a “smelly Arab” and that Israeli … Continue reading →

Using women in Afghanistan, or any other oppressed group, as a shield to continue wars is really an odious tactic. This war, the costliest in US history, should be justified on the basis of national security interests. Humanitarian reasons can … Continue reading →

Not enough has been written about US civil rights attorney, Lynne Stewart, who was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison for illegally distributing press releases on behalf of her client, Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman. The majority of mainstream output seems … Continue reading →

We must remember that an attack on IHH is an attack on all humanitarian groups around the world. Given that IHH is among the most courageous humanitarian NGOs in the world — risking their lives to work in places like … Continue reading →

For the cost of just 246 soldiers posted for one year, America could pay for a higher education plan for all Afghanistan. That would help build an Afghan economy, civil society and future — all for one-quarter of 1 percent … Continue reading →

Furkan was killed on the top deck just above the bridge of the Mavi Marmara. He was using a video camera and was taking a video of the helicopters flying above the Mavi Marmara when he was shot from above … Continue reading →