In The News

Charlie Hebdo Attacks Stir Resolve and Contemplation

Stathis N. Kalyvas January 15, 2015
Terrorists hope to incite fear, panic and capitulation, but so far Europe is resisting such response after surprise attacks on the Paris offices of a satirical newspaper, Charlie Hebdo, and a Kosher grocery store. “And because they are so shocking, these attacks tempt those targeted into reacting in a kneejerk way, ultimately playing into the hands of the attackers and becoming self-fulfilling...

Terror Attacks Cannot Save Islam's “Honor”

Husain Haqqani January 13, 2015
Terror attacks in Europe and exaggerated threats on social media are not acts of courage or faith. “More important, terrorism is unlikely to dissuade anyone so inclined to refrain from insulting Islam, its prophet or Muslims,” writes Husain Haqqani, former Pakistan envoy to the United States, for the Times of India. Such attacks are not new, with Haqqani pointing to the 1929 murder of a Hindu...

What Is Behind Europe's Rising Islamophobia?

Alexander Görlach January 7, 2015
Europe has long been viewed as a beacon for human rights, though a few extremists – whether Islamophobes or jihadists – seem intent on wrecking that reputation. European nations are seeing a surge in nationalism and extremism, against a backdrop of arson attacks on mosques and a chilling terrorist attack today on a satirical newspaper in France leaving 12 people dead. Alexander Görlach writes...

Why #I'llRideWithYou Worked

Husna Haq December 19, 2014
Muslims represent about 2 percent of Australia’s population. After a lone extremist, out on bail for serious charges, terrorized a group in a Sydney chocolate store, Twitter users realized that Muslims might expect a backlash and started a campaign on #I’llRideWithYou: “the hashtag began with a Facebook post … [by a woman] who said a Muslim woman sitting next to her on a train in Sydney had...

Clouds Over Charities for Refugees in Islamic Countries

Susan Froetschel December 18, 2014
The world has 50 million displaced people, and refugees have little choice but to depend on other countries and their citizens for generosity. Faith-based charities are often among the first to respond to humanitarian crises, notes the UN Refugee Agency, and Islamic faith-based charities are active in Pakistan, Iran, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey – lead host nations for refugees. Fundraising by...

Somalia's Troubles Come South

December 4, 2014
Kenya and Somalia share a border, but not economic goals. Kenya has a population of 45 million, 87 percent of whom are literate. GDP is $1800 per capita and 43 percent live below the poverty line. Somalia has 10 million people, 38 percent of whom are literate. GDP is $600 per capita and statistics on poverty are not available. Somalia militants find it easy to move across the border to attack...

The Geography of Terrorism

Kathy Gilsinan November 21, 2014
Nearly 18,000 people died in terrorist attacks in 2013 and more than 80 percent were from five countries – Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Syria – reports the Global Terrorism Index, based on data from the University of Maryland’s Global Terrorism Database and reported on by Kathy Gilsinan for the Atlantic. The index suggests a 60 percent jump in terrorism deaths over the previous year...