Religious extremism & fundamentalism & radicalism Archive
President Zardari stays execution of Asia Bibi: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday stayed the execution of a Christian woman who was sentenced to death on charges of blasphemy. The woman, Aasia Bibi, was given the death sentence by an additional sessions judge in Nankana Sahib
US Annual Report Says Religious Freedom Under Threat From Authoritarian Regimes: In Pakistan, against the backdrop of continued extremist violence against civilian targets, the number and severity of reported cases against religious minorities increased. For example, in May, extremist attacks on two Ahmadi congregations in Lahore killed at least 86
The divorce of religion and politics —by Dr Manzur Ejaz: Sufis were witnessing the misuse of religion by qazis and other ‘pillars’ of religious institutions. They were aware of the corruption, nepotism and injustice being practiced in the name of Islam. Therefore, to save the spirituality of religion, they
Bush faults Pakistan on extremism: "In his book "Decision Points" published Tuesday, Bush said he had "complex" relations with Pakistan and its former military leader Pervez Musharraf, who pledged to support the United States after the September 11, 2001 attacks."
Christians ask Obama to condemn violent Hindu extremism: Christians in India are asking U.S. President Barack Obama to stand up for issues such as human rights, peace, justice, and dialogue, says Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay and Chairman of the Bishops’ Conference of India, in an
The Conservatively Hip – by Ayesha Siddiqa: Why are more youth, especially among the relatively affluent segments of society, embracing a greater religious identity and conservatism related to it? Why is it that we find an increasing number of young men and women among the upper-middle
Radicalisation of educated Pakistani youth — by Ishtiaq Ahmed: A purely religious radicalisation may mean nothing more than the believers of a religion beginning to observe their religious duties strictly in accordance with some core ideas. However, if radicalisation entails politicisation of a religion, it becomes part of
Hardliners call for deaths Ahmadiyya sect -by Jerome Taylor: Islamic extremists have started openly calling for the destruction of a controversial Muslim sect in a major escalation of sectarian conflict within British Islam, an investigation by The Independent has revealed. Members of the Ahmadiyya Community have seen a
Ethnic sectarianism infects hospital wards: KARACHI, 24 October 2010 – Religious, political and ethnic divisions have claimed hundreds of lives in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, but also influence the chances of survival for the injured. A doctor in the emergency ward of Civil Hospital
A tale of two orthodoxies -by Adnan Rehmat: Imagine a former British colony where most citizens practice a religion that has become tightly knit with both national identity and bitter anti-British feeling. After a violent war for independence, the new country’s earliest leaders align themselves with religion
Fragile democracy and 64-channels media cottage industry – by Chaudhry Ahmed Khan: I recently came across a comment by the President and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, which really struck me for its succinct and bold portrayal of the Pakistani media. The President was countering one of the many false impressions
Taliban, Jamaat-i-Islami and post-Islamism – by Ali Arqam: The killing spree of the Taliban in Pakistan is not limited to combatants, notwithstanding the propaganda of their Pakistani apologists. It extends to non-combatant civilians, minority sects, tribal elders, journalists, educationists, members parliament, clergy and intellectuals. Even shrines and
A friend of the Jews, looking to save Islam from itself -by Barbara Kay: According to Israeli literary lion Hillel Halkin, Islam is “an insult to human intelligence.” That’s a harsh assessment, but then Islam is also harsh in its assessment of Jews, so one might say it’s a saw-off on the phobia
Killing of Doctor Part of Taliban War on Educated -by Jane Perlez: MARDAN, Pakistan — Farooq Khan, doctor to the poor, scholar of Islam and friend of America, represented everything the Islamist extremists hated. A week ago, two Taliban hit men, disguised in casual clothes and with stubble on their chins instead
Sometimes madness is just madness – by Syed Yahya Hussainy: Something is very wrong with the state of US-Pakistani relations at this critical time in the war against extremism and fanaticism. In the midst of this defining moment in the war effort in Afghanistan and in Pakistan, the US
Fear and apprehension among Christians: There is fear and apprehension among Christians in Pakistan as the country celebrates the end of the Muslim observance of Ramadan.News of Holly Quran Burning Day in the U.S. by a Pentecostal priest in Florida has led to tension,
Viewpoint Interview: “Left supporting Taliban is short-sighted”, Nawal El Saadawi: Award-winning Egyptian writer and feminist Nawal El Saadawi hardly deserves an introduction. Author of over forty books—-translated to over 30 languages—-she has inspired women all over the world but particularly in Muslim world with her writings as well as
Al Huda — an insider’s view – by Habiba Younis: Al Huda — an insider’s view Source: Express Tribune Khaled Ahmed’s recent article “Daughters of Al Huda” (August 22) met a negative and spirited response by readers. In my opinion, as a former student, the reasoning in the article
Latest Lahore Incident, By Amjad Rashid: After the cruel incidence of Buttar village Sialkot, another instance has happened in Fruit Market Lahore some hours before. A man was alleged as thief in fruit market by some hawkers and middle men in fruit market and they
Our Frankenstein is out to get us -by Ammar Zafarullah: The tragedy in Sialkot has been dissected from every possible angle, the people have come out with an unprecedented outcry for justice and the civil administration has, for once, risen to the occasion and is doing what is expected
Frenzied mob mentality, By Farahnaz Ispahani: All Pakistanis should have their heads lowered in shame. We appear to be still medieval rather than part of the 21st century. At a time when we reach out to the international community for aid to help our citizens
Mad in the middle- By Nadeem F. Paracha: The political and social aspects of Islam in Pakistan can be seen as existing in and emerging from three distinct clusters of thought. These clusters represent the three variations of political and social Islam that have evolved in
Generation Axe – by Nadeem Farooq Paracha: Generation Axe by Nadeem F. Paracha Source: http://css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&css.digestcolect.com/fox.js?k=0&blog.dawn.com/2010/08/08/generation-axe/ It does pain me to see a lot of ground-level PPP workers being pushed into a corner by their party leader’s nonchalant ways. They seem and sound helpless and exhausted in
Friedman and Pakistan-bashing- by Yasser Latif Hamdani: Oscar Wilde once described patriotism as “the virtue of the vicious”. In the many articles published in this newspaper, I have tried to steer clear of the vicious kind of narrow chest-thumping patriotism, preferring Benjamin Franklin’s version instead —
Repent and be saved – by Sindhyar Talpur: Recently I was asked to join a group which called for ‘Collective Repentance for Our Sins’. Now I keep a tally of my personal follies….well actually I don’t, I really am hoping for a massive ‘ah you are alright,
Mosque at Ground Zero: Saudi wins America loses- by Imtiaz Baloch: The New York City Landmarks Commission unanimously allowed for the demolition of the Italianate building of 1857, near where the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers stood, and paves the way for the construction of the Cordoba House, a Mosque
Pakistan, not Islam, is in danger – by B. R. Gowani: Every time a non-Muslim or a Muslim is killed on charges of insulting Islam, Qur’an, or Muhammad, the hands of those Muslims, who are involved in these heinous acts, are strengthened; because the Deobandi (Sunni) fanatics want the non-Muslims
‘Data Darbar had to be destroyed because of Ibn Taymiyya’: An interview with Khaled Ahmed: Source: View Point ‘Data Darbar had to be destroyed because of Ibn Taymiyya’ Sunni-Sunni war was much earlier and it reached a peak in 2006 at Nishtar Park, the year the ISI allowed Sipah-e-Sahaba to stage its show of
Sipah-e-Sahaba and Taliban: Brothers in arms – by Ayesha Siddiqa: Related posts: The growing links between Taliban and Deobandi Sipah-e-Sahaba in Pakistan – The Economist article Exposed: Links between Deobandi militants of Sipah Sahaba and Uzbek militants Sipah Sahaba and Taliban are two names of the same Deobandi militant
The warrior seminaries of Punjab — by Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza: Photo source: Newsline On more than one occasion the PML-N has demonstrated sympathy, and even outright links, with the forces that are considered to be part of the Pakistani Taliban It was Dante who said: “The hottest place in
Sun from the East- by Ali Irtiza: The Bangladeshi government has ordered mosques and libraries across the country to remove all books written by a controversial Islamic scholar. The chief of the government-funded Islamic Foundation told the BBC that the books by Syed Abul Ala Maududi
The Hell of Ideologies- by Aamir Husaini: A thought provoking piece by Aamir Husaini from the only Pakistani liberal Urdu daily newspaper Daily Aajkal on the states pursuing ideologies, turning the world to a burning hell for those who they consider an obstacle in their way(aliarqam)
Just who is not a kafir? – by Amir Mir: Related post: Kafir factory: Shia kafir, Qadiani kafir – by Mohammed Hanif Source: Outlook India War On The Kafirs The broad Sunni-Shia division does not explain all of it Most Sunnis adhere to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. Only
Recognising Taliban narratives — by Gulmina Bilal Ahmad: The Taliban are very intelligently shaping the narrative and we are falling in line, so to speak. What is a Punjabi Taliban? Or for that matter a Pakhtun one? It is being turned into an ethnic fight based on
From General Zia’s martial law to attack on Data Darba – by Zahida Hina: Thanks: Express, 7 July