religion

Written by Bridge Initiative Team | – – Honey Maid, the famous Graham cracker brand behind such delectable pleasures as “Morning Sticks” and “Teddy Grahams,” has thrown its cap in the ring of pluralism. In a new advertisement that is part of its “This is Wholesome” campaign, the company showcases a Muslim woman interacting with […]

Democracy

Why Are there no Iranian Suicide Bombers? Evolving Islamic Democracy Matters!

contributors

By Ali R. Abootalebi | (Informed Comment) | – – The emergence of political Islam in the mainstream politics in the Middle East and across other Muslim countries since the 1970s has impacted socioeconomic and political development in so many different ways. The return of religion–a symbol of traditionalism–to the mainstream debate about and the […]

Haredim

Israel’s “chained women” fight for right to divorce

contributors

By Michael Blum | ( Your Middle East | – – Israel’s “chained women” fight for right to divorce. She is one of Israel’s “chained women” — the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of wives denied a divorce by their husbands and prevented from breaking free by the country’s use of Jewish law. The 30-year-old mother of […]

Iraq

Iraq: Shiite Militias issue threats against US Troops going to Iraq to fight Salafi ISIL

contributors

By Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) | – – Recently US troops started fighting the [so-called] Islamic State in Iraq [ISIL], with ‘boots on the ground’. But is keeping a distance between the US and some old Shiite enemies hampering the fight? Or is it just good tactics? Iraqis found out that just about […]

Islam-hatred

The Ted Cruz solution won’t stop terrorism in the U.S.

contributors

By Robert Pape and Walker Gunning | ( Chicago Tribune) | – – Most Americans felt the Brussels bombings in the pits of their stomachs. That’s natural. Terrorism’s greatest weapon is not those it kills immediately, but its ability to spread fear after the fact. That fear makes terrorism not just a political issue, but […]

Arab Americans

The Trump Doctrine: End NATO, Patrol Mosques, Nukes for Japan & Allies

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Anderson Cooper’s interview with Donald Trump on Tuesday evening had the advantage of allowing come-backs and close questioning. At one point Cooper pointed out to Trump that he sometimes behaved like a 5-year-old, as with his attacks on Heidi Cruz. At another, he wondered why Trump […]

Islam-hatred

White Terrorist and Muslim-Hater Breivik Sues Norway over ‘Inhumane Treatment’

contributors

AJ+ | – – “Anders Breivik’s trial over inhumane prison conditions just ended. His more serious complaints include 23-hour isolation, censorship and hundreds of strip searches. In 2011 he killed 77 people in what he calls an attempt to prevent “Islamization.” A decision is expected in April.” AJ+: “Anders Breivik, Norway Mass Killer, Sues Over […]

Featured

More US Muslims favor Bernie Sanders than do US Jews

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) published a new opinion poll on America’s Muslims and other religious groups this week, which contains some surprises. One important finding is that mosque attendance is associated with strong identification as an American and strong civic participation as […]

Islam-hatred

9/11: Clueless US Judge doesn’t Know Shiites from al-Qaeda, finds against Iran for $10 Bn.

contributors

TeleSur | – – A U.S. court last week ordered Tehran to pay US$7.5 billion to victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Iran on Monday rejected as “ridiculous” a U.S. court ruling that the Islamic Republic must pay more than US$10 billion in compensation for the 9/11 […]