Arab Spring
Egypt’s leading activist gets 5 years; 2 others get 4 years
By Associated Press — December 20, 2021
CAIRO (AP) — Alaa Abdel-Fattah's arrest and trial have drawn criticism from Western governments and international rights groups.
Mustafa Akyol argues for Islamic reform from within
By Joseph Hammond — May 18, 2021
(RNS) — His new book calls for a revival of rational thought in Islamic theology.
Tunisian women welcome repeal of interfaith marriage ban
By Akram Khalifa — September 28, 2017
TUNIS, Tunisia (RNS) — But Islamic conservatives aim to undo the repeal of the law, which they maintain was based on Muslim teaching.
How we honor Muslims who stand up to terror
By guest — July 21, 2016
WASHINGTON (RNS) Stories of Muslims facing down hate and terror, especially perpetrated by violent Islamists who claim to speak in their name, are both important to tell and more common than we realize.
Ancient Tunisian Jewish community faces uncertain future
By Yonat Shimron — June 20, 2016
HARA KBIRA, Tunisia (RNS) Djerba remains a tiny oasis of interfaith harmony and tolerance in an Arab world splintered by violence.
Key Tunisian party renounces political Islam
By Tom Heneghan — May 23, 2016
(RNS) A party congress over the weekend voted to drop Ennahda’s traditional religious work and participate in Tunisian politics as a regular political party.
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.
Tunisia takes on militants, pushes back against Shariah law
By Sarah Lynch — March 31, 2014
TUNIS, Tunisia (RNS) Militancy in the Arab world is often fueled by repressive political policies; many experts say Tunisia is wisely steering away from despotic edicts that have rocked Arab Spring movements in Egypt and Libya.
Christians in Libya cast anxious eye at religious freedom
By Fredrick Nzwili — January 10, 2014
(RNS) Church leaders in Libya remain hopeful that Christians in the mostly Muslim country will be allowed to practice their faith, even as the country appears to move towards Shariah law.
Women photographers shatter Middle Eastern stereotypes
By Omar Sacirbey — January 7, 2014
BOSTON (RNS) “She Who Tells a Story,” a photo exhibit now showing at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, features the work of 12 women from Muslim countries who shatter stereotypes with works that are provocative, beautiful, mysterious, and surprising, all at the same time.
The Racism of New York Times’ “Muslims are not ready for Democracy”
By Omid Safi — July 5, 2013
What is perhaps most frustrating about the NY Times' "mental deficiency" language vis-a-vis Muslims and democracy is that this language is simply a continuation of a colonial apologia where Western countries colonizing and occupying, Muslim (and other) countries justified their lingering oppression by stating that these countries “were not ready to rule themselves”, “lacked the mental qualifications needed for self-governance”, etc. This colonial—which is to say, unjust and oppressive—worldview must be exposed and dismantled before we can embrace a more holistic and humanistic paradigm.
Study: Religious oppression rises despite Arab Spring
By Lauren Markoe — June 20, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) The number of countries in the region with sectarian or communal violence between religious groups doubled from five to 10 during 2011, a year that coincided with most of the political uprisings of Arab Spring.
Three popes at Vatican as Francis welcomes head of Egypt’s Copts
By Alessandro Speciale — May 10, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis on Friday (May 10) met with Pope Tawadros II, head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church, an encounter that brought the number of popes residing within the Vatican walls to three this week. It also put a spotlight on the suffering of Christians in Egypt.
Tunisians worry about loss of freedoms gained under the Arab Spring
By Elizabeth Bryant — October 5, 2012
TUNIS, TUNISIA (RNS) Increasingly, critics say, free expression -- a cornerstone of Tunisia's 2011 revolution -- is under attack. A string of incidents has fueled an intense debate about the role of religion, artistic expression and women's rights in this once staunchly secular North African country. By Elizabeth Bryant.
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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