In The News

Canadians Allow Islamic Courts to Decide Disputes

DeNeen L. Brown April 28, 2004
In Ontario, Canada, Muslims can now choose to decide civil disputes under sharia, a form of Islamic law. Practitioners may agree to arbitration in tribunals separate from the Canadian judicial system, run by imams and Muslim elders. The power of these courts would be limited, and the Canadian government reserves the right to overturn decisions. The idea for establishing sharia in Canada came from...

Olympics Insured Against Terrorism

Philip Hersh April 28, 2004
The upcoming Olympic Games, scheduled to take place in Athens, Greece will feature athletes from all over the world and help promote the Olympic spirit of forging a global community through sports. In the contemporary era of global terrorism, however, it is particularly such international events that are most vulnerable to terrorist attacks. The organizers of the Games, the International...

Asians Offer Region a Lesson – in English

April 25, 2004
According to this Miami Herald article, most of the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group (APEC) - a group that includes China, South Korea, and Singapore - are making impressive gains in teaching English to their schoolchildren. Economic success in Asian countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong can be at least partially attributed to high levels of...

Native Son: Samuel Huntington Defends the Homeland

Alan Wolfe April 21, 2004
According to reviewer Alan Wolfe, Samuel Huntington’s distinguishing characteristic in previous books has been detached pragmatism. However, in Huntington's latest book, Who Are We? The Challenges to America’s National Identity, he delves into the issue of immigration to America with unprecedented ardor and nostalgic sentiment. It is this “moralistic passion” that clouds his powers of...

Cost, Language Barrier Still Keeping Tourists Away

Kaho Shimizu April 20, 2004
Japan wants to attract more tourists but faces many hurdles: a confusing transportation system, limited ATM and currency exchange access, and expensive accommodation. The government has already changed the coding for Tokyo's subway system to allow tourists easier orientation. But changing ATM access will face considerable costs. At the moment, Japan's magnetic strips on bank and credit...

Explaining The Passion

Gihan Shahine April 16, 2004
It’s no surprise that Christian Egyptians, like Christians worldwide, flocked to see Mel Gibson’s recent film The Passion of the Christ. Yet the majority of Egyptian moviegoers who bought tickets to the film were Muslims. The turnout is particularly startling because Islam generally condemns representations of prophets, and Egypt itself once banned The Prince of Egypt because of its portrayal of...

Democracy Gains in Southeast Asia's Islamic Nations

Goenawan Mohamad April 16, 2004
The rise of Al Qaeda has led many in the West to conflate Islam with anti-democratic political views. This is a mistake, argues Jakarta-based writer Goenawan Mohamad, given that the world's two largest Muslim countries - Indonesia and Malaysia - are solidly democratic. In Malaysia, the March elections yielded victory for pluralist parties and defeat for those advocating state adoption of...