apostasy - The Chronikler

Illustration of the elephant Abu al-Abbas

Khaled Diab August 29, 2022August 29, 2022 0 Comments abbasid, abu nuwas, andalusia, apostasy, caliphate, charlemagne, christendom, christianity, constantinople, crusade, Egypt, eu, europe, european commission, harun al-rashid, infidel, irene of athens, islam, middle east, muslims, saddam hussein, slaves, umayyad

When a Christian king and a Muslim caliph united against their common foes

Despite the official holy war between Islam and Christendom, Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid and Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne exchanged lavish

Arab atheists: A demonised minority

Atheists are widely misunderstood by many Arabs and Muslims. There are those who believe us to be Satanists or that

Beyond belief: Arab atheists and their quest for acceptance amid intolerance

Atheists are amongst the most marginalised and persecuted minorities in the Arab world. Despite the risks atheists face from the state and vigilantes, atheism has become more visible and vocal in recent years, leading to greater public understanding and tolerance.

The unlikely demonisation of Salman Rushdie

Salman Rushdie made a very unlikely target for the fury of conservative Muslims, which is why the opportunistic fatwa issued by a Khomeini in serious decline took the novelist and the world by surprise.

The curious case of the Islamophobe who became a Muslim

Rather than being like a vegetarian who suddenly becomes a carnivore, a former Islamophobic politician’s conversion to Islam is more akin to a committed soda beverage drinker switching from Coca Cola to Pepsi.

Muslim women in short skirts and the Tunisia paradox

Bombing Afghanistan will not bring back women in short skirts, rather it will only empower men in short skirts (beards and long trousers). The path to gender equality lies in internal reform, as Tunisia demonstrates.

Special focus: Godless Arabs and Muslims

Here you will find years of coverage of the under-reported issues relating to non-believers of an Arab and Muslim background. Yes, they do exist.

Atheists: The Arab world’s rebels without a god

In Egypt and other Arab countries, the atheism taboo has been broken. Atheists are rebelling against the status quo and demanding to be seen and heard.

Is atheism Egypt’s fastest-growing ‘religion’?

Despite the risks associated with atheism, more and more atheists are coming out of the closet in Egypt, emboldened by the revolution’s ethos of freedom and dignity.