Category Archives: Islamism
8 Reasons Why the US and its Allies Are Responsible for Islamic Extremism
Alternet: When Bill Maher and Sam Harris recently re-ignited the debate over Islamophobia on the left, they defended themselves from charges of racism by invoking the specter of Islamic extremism. In responding to their critics, Muslim-bashers often argue that Islam embodies … Continue reading
Army says no to ‘Khomeini rule’ in Egypt
AFP: Egypt will not be ruled by “another (Ayatollah) Khomeini,” the country’s military said on Monday, in reference to the cleric who led Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution, the official MENA news agency reported. “Egypt will not be governed by another … Continue reading
How political Islam is winning the war for talent (and gaining a competitive edge)
Foreign Policy Magazine – Excerpts: In 2009 the Muslim Brotherhood’s Supreme Guide Mohammed Mehdi Akef voluntarily stepped aside — the first time a top leader in the movement had voluntarily resigned before reaching death’s door. His message, as Michele Dunne … Continue reading
Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah
Fadlallah passed away yesterday. I would have commented on it sooner but I was in the Bay area for the weekend and didn’t get around to blogging until now. Contrary to media reports, Fadlallah was not the “spiritual guide” to … Continue reading
Hezbollah entrenched in Lebanon years after Israel left
BBC – Excerpts: “Ten years on since the withdrawal, the UN together with the Lebanese army patrol the border area. But flapping in the breeze along the fence are yellow and green flags of Hezbollah. Waving next to them is … Continue reading
Hichkas – Ye Rooze Khoob Miad (and the origins of rap)
This is by far one of the best Persian rap songs I’ve heard (thanx Milad). I should tell you that I am one of those who thinks that mainstream rap is dead, DEAD. Most commercial rappers today rap about nothing. … Continue reading
Shariati Speaks
“.اگر مثل گاو گنده باشي،ميدوشنت، اگر مثل خر قوي باشي، بارت مي كنند، اگر مثل اسب دونده باشي،سوارت مي شوند… Ùقط از Ùهميدن تو مي ترسند”
Lebanese Armenians to Vote for Hizbullah
BBC: In the upcoming parliamentary election in June, the main Armenian political party, Tashnak, looks set to play kingmaker. The vote of the 150,000-strong Armenian community may sway the outcome of the bitter and close race between the pro-Western government … Continue reading
The Final Death Toll of the Israeli Aggression in Gaza
GAZA (Reuters) – Israel’s 22-day offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip killed 1,434 people, including 960 civilians, 239 police officers and 235 fighters, a Palestinian human rights group said Thursday. Israel carried out attacks by air, land and sea from … Continue reading
Middle East Reality Check
Roger Cohen at the NYT: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton grabbed headlines with an invitation to Iran to attend a conference on Afghanistan, but the significant Middle Eastern news last week came from Britain. It has “reconsidered†its position on … Continue reading
Video Project: “Shi’ism: From Defeat to Defiance”
This past semester I enrolled in Professor Harvey Cox’s “Fundamentalism in Religion and Politics” course at the Divinity School here at Harvard. For the final, he gave us the option of doing a video project or a final paper. My … Continue reading
Travel Log Part 4
This has probably been the longest while since I’ve updated my weblog. My apologies. I’m in a 6 week intensive intermediate Arabic program and it’s been hard trying to keep up with course work while at the same time trying … Continue reading
Blog’s 3rd Anniversary
This month marks my weblog’s 3rd anniversary. I hope you’ve found this blog useful and thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I hope you’ve learned as much from me as I have from you. To mark the occasion, … Continue reading
War is Politics by Other Means
[Although a bit dated, I find this piece on Hizbullah and the aftermath of the ’06 war very relevant.] Excerpt: It was this culture of resistance that led to Hizballah’s surprise victory in what is now being called in Lebanon … Continue reading
Imam Musa as-Sadr on Shariati
In his eulogy to Dr. Ali Shariati, Imam Musa as-Sadr said: Men living through difficult times which fail to meet their aspirations split off into four categories. There are those who submit, become ‘pillars of society,’ become like the large … Continue reading