In The News

Saudi Arabia: Atheists Are Terrorists

Adam Withnall April 4, 2014
A series of royal decrees and laws in Saudi Arabia are defining terrorists – and atheists, peaceful protesters, members of the Muslim Brotherhood as well as those who leave to fight wars in other country, particularly Syria, all qualify, suggests a Human Rights Watch report. The crimes can be published with prison sentences up to 20 years. “Article one of the new provisions defines terrorism as ‘...

Schism Between Sunni and Shia Has Poisoned Islam for 1,400 years – It’s Getting Worse

Paul Vallely February 27, 2014
So many nations are polarized with ongoing conflict, and one reason is religious intolerance. In Muslim nations, a sharp religious divide between Sunni and Shia Muslims – one that began over who would succeed the Prophet Mohammed after his death in the 7th century, still contributes to jihad and civil war. “In most countries these Shia are minorities in a Sunni homeland,” explains Paul Vallely...

Tread With Caution in Highly Sensitive Burma

David I. Steinberg February 13, 2014
The government in Burma (Myanmar) is loosening political controls, and welcoming more trade and interactions with the rest of the world. The strong culture has resisted waves of Indian, Chinese and Western influences in the past, suggests David I. Steinberg, distinguished professor of Asian Studies emeritus at Georgetown University, and new connections are introducing rapid change that could...

Islamabad Hides Behind Taliban Talks

Shams uz Zaman February 7, 2014
Pakistan and Taliban representatives have started peace talks. Pakistani media debate “whether a military operation or negotiations are the best solution to the Taliban insurgency,” reflecting deep divide between Pakistani secular liberals and religious conservatives, writes Shams uz Zaman for Asia Times. He suggests that Pakistan’s liberalism represents wealth and double standards rather than...

The Specter of Mass Killings in Burma

Larry Diamond February 3, 2014
Myanmar, or Burma’s struggle to build a democracy is visible in many spheres of life including many problematic provisions in the new constitution: “These give the military a quarter of the seats in parliament (and thus a veto over constitutional reform) … and complete immunity from civilian oversight,” writes Larry Diamond for the Atlantic. “They also continue to deny Burma’s minorities (...

Unpredictable Pope Challenges Journalists

Fiona Ehlers December 20, 2013
The world has more than 1.2 billion Catholics, and Radio Vatican translates the sermons and every other comment of Pope Francis into 44 languages. The pope adds to translation challenges with “free, spontaneous speech,” audience exchanges, opinions and jokes, reports Fiona Ehlers for Spiegel Online. One priest described the pope’s style as “down-to-earth” and noted, “’Sometimes it really makes us...

Dignity Deficit Fuels Uprisings in the Middle East

Nayef Al-Rodhan September 10, 2013
The Arab Spring has pummeled a region with waves of hope for recovering lost dignity, short-lived success and then despair and more despair. Unending conflict has killed many and left millions more refugees. The international community has long empowered brutal dictators, in pursuit of oil or short-term stability, and then pointedly ignored dire conditions, overlooking blatant violations of human...