Oren Dorell
Oren Dorell is an author at Religion News Service.
All Stories by Oren Dorell
First diplomat for LGBT rights speaks out
By Oren Dorell — April 29, 2015
WASHINGTON -- In his trailblazing role at the State Department, Randy Berry says, he has an opportunity to help his two children grow up in a world more accepting than the one he was born into.
Mayor: ‘Without Jews Paris would not be city that it is’
By Oren Dorell — February 20, 2015
French citizens of all stripes are part of a "national community" that transcends religion, village and country of origin, she said. "We cannot accept this opposition or violence of one group over another within a national community in Paris."
Saudi’s new King Salman likely to stay the Muslim kingdom’s course
By Oren Dorell — January 27, 2015
(RNS) Saudi Arabia's King Salman has sought to bring slow change to one of the most conservative nations on earth.
Boko Haram emerges as brutal Islamic State of Africa
By Oren Dorell — January 23, 2015
(RNS) Nigerian government troops seem weak and incapable of stopping Boko Haram from becoming a growing danger to Africa's most populous country and the world's 10th largest oil exporter.
Rockets or not, Birthright still going to Israel
By Oren Dorell — July 24, 2014
(RNS) Rocket fire from terrorists in Gaza may have scared off U.S. and European airlines, but Taglit-Birthright Israel is still sending thousands of young Jews to the famed summer Israel experiences.
Iraq militants announce new Islamic state
By Oren Dorell — June 30, 2014
(RNS) The militant group called the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant announced it will now be known as The Islamic State.
In a nutshell: What is Boko Haram?
By Oren Dorell — May 8, 2014
(RNS) Boko Haram opposes the education of girls and has kidnapped girls to use as cooks and sex slaves. It has killed hundreds of children.
Jews ordered to register in east Ukraine
By Oren Dorell — April 17, 2014
(RNS) The leaflet begins, "Dear Ukraine citizens of Jewish nationality," and states that all people of Jewish descent over 16 years old must report to the Commissioner for Nationalities in the Donetsk Regional Administration building and "register."
Political Islam on the defensive across the Middle East
By Oren Dorell — August 20, 2013
(RNS) The conflict between secularists and Islamists is generating a new religious dialogue about the role of religion in politics, as political leaders in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Jordan side with the Egyptian military and secularists.
Fate of Jerusalem looms over peace talks
By Oren Dorell — July 29, 2013
(RNS) Competing claims on the land are most intense in the Temple Mount-Haram al Sharif area and the stone-paved 1-square-kilometer area of Jerusalem's Old City. But Jewish neighborhoods and construction in and around East Jerusalem have given rise to various creative solutions for resolving the riddle of how two people, and two faiths, can share the same place.
Syrian civil war forces Sunni and Shiite Muslims to pick sides
By Oren Dorell — May 30, 2013
(RNS) Whether the battle will be contained to Syria is in doubt now that Islam's two major strands have taken sides against one another, threatening to spark a wider war that is centuries in the making between Sunni and Shiite Muslims.
Armenians cast doubt on ‘Misha’ impact on bombing suspects
By Oren Dorell — April 26, 2013
WATERTOWN, Mass. (RNS) Two relatives of Tamerlan Tsarnaev say he was influenced by an Armenian convert to Islam named Misha. Armenian Americans say it is very unlikely an Armenian would become a Muslim.
Boston mosque says bombing suspect had outbursts but wasn’t violent
By Oren Dorell — April 23, 2013
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (RNS) Leaders at a Cambridge mosque say Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev "disagreed with the moderate American-Islamic theology" of the mosque, but they never had "any hint" the brothers might be violent.
Survey: Syrian rebels seek Islamic democracy
By Oren Dorell — September 24, 2012
(RNS) Members of the Syrian opposition generally want a democratic government that protects the rights of minorities, though many also want a constitution based on Islam, according to a recent survey. By Oren Dorell.
Middle East riots fueled by competition between radicals, moderates as new democracies emerge
By Oren Dorell — September 17, 2012
(RNS) Whether U.S. foreign policy has helped create a political environment where radicals are struggling to remain relevant, or emboldened extremists to act out, is a matter of disagreement. By Oren Dorell.
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