religion

By Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im | (The Conversation) | – – The media coverage of the terrorist atrocities of Friday November 13 in Paris would seem to promote an almost mythical image of the [so-called] Islamic State group (ISIL, ISIS). What humanity needs, however, is to demystify ISIS as a criminal organization. And that need is […]

Buddhism

Terrorism and the Other Religions

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Reprint edn. slightly revised. Contrary to what is alleged by bigots like Bill Maher, Muslims are not more violent than people of other religions. Murder rates in most of the Muslim world are very low compared to the United States. As for political violence, people of […]

Featured

Top Ten Ways Islamic Law forbids Terrorism

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Reprint edn. (Slightly rearranged & revised): 1. Terrorism or hirabah is forbidden in Islamic law, which groups it with brigandage, highway robbery and extortion rackets– any illicit use of fear and coercion in public spaces for money or power. The principle of forbidding the spreading of […]

Islam-hatred

What’s Wrong with Asking Muslims to Condemn Terrorism?

contributors

Written by Bridge Initiative Team | (Bridge) | – – Last [September], Vox journalist Max Fisher recounted a interesting story about an exchange between Larry King and a Muslim fan seeking a photo. Upon learning the fan was from Saudi Arabia, the former CNN host told him that he is Jewish and wondered aloud if […]

Christianity

Syria: Christian Militia to the Rescue as 1000s of Christians flee ISIL approach

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Despite Russian airstrikes, Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) has made some advances in November. One place it has had some success is Homs province, which is vulnerable because Daesh has a position in Palmyra. At the beginning of November, Daesh took Maheen and advanced toward the major Christian […]

Immigration

No, Neocons: US isn’t facing ‘Flood’ of Syrian Refugees

contributors

By Bridge Initiative Team | – – In the wake of the Syrian refugee crisis, which has forced more than four million people to flee that country’s civil war, fears over the geopolitical fallout have gripped some quarters of the American public. Amid intense conversations about how to deal with the throngs of stranded people […]

Featured

With Ahmad Chalabi’s Death, Passing of an Age of Lies

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Ahmad Chalabi (1944-2015) died of a heart attack in Iraq on Tuesday. Clarence Darrow, the great trial lawyer and orator, said, “I’ve never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.” I don’t get any satisfaction from this obituary. In the first Star […]

Islam-hatred

The “Bridge” Project: Fighting the anti-Muslim Machine

contributors

By Inas Younis/ John Esposito | (Interview of Esposito in OnIslam) SALT LAKE – The Wall Street journal called Professor John L. Esposito “American’s foremost authority and interpreter of Islam.” With over 40 years devoted to the field of Islamic studies, Esposito is well known as one of the world’s most influential bridge builders of […]

Islam-hatred

Which Presidential Candidates Have ‘Shown Backbone’ Against Islamophobia?

contributors

Robert McCaw | (ISLAMICommentary) | – – Robert McCaw Last Friday, former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley denounced the socially-corrosive evils of “Islamophobia and xenophobia” at a conference held by the Arab American Institute at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. What should have been an unremarkable statement was made noteworthy because only a few presidential candidates have […]