Lessons in religious intolerance
By Khaled Diab Using offensive images of Muhammad in the context of a lesson on blasphemy is entirely justifiable pedagogically,
Read MoreBeyond 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.
Read MoreThe shocking similarities between white supremacists and Islamist extremists
Despite their conviction that they are polar opposites, white supremacists and Islamist extremists share much in common, including a hatred for minorities and the enemies within, a persecution complex, and nostalgia for past glories.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MorePrisoners of our guilty consciences
The intensifying crackdown on the media and civil society in Egypt leaves Egyptians who are out of the country feeling powerless to help and guilty about the freedoms they enjoy.
Read MoreWestern Muslims: The neglected link
Despite their under-utilisation and the suspicion they elicit, European and American Muslims can help bridge the chasm between “West” and “East”.
Read MoreEurope’s invisible “Islamisation” is centuries old
The murderous Paris attacks have reignited fears of “Islamisation”. But Islamic civilisation is encoded in Europe’s cultural and intellectual DNA.
Read MoreEgypt’s revolution in the breaking
Although Egypt has been eclipsed on the Western media radar, it remains caught in a deadly bind between popular jingoism and religious demagoguery.
Read MoreRemembering the real Raba’a
Competing myths have emerged around the Raba’a protest camp. But it was neither a terrorist den nor a gathering of freedom and democracy lovers.
Read MoreIsrael is the puppet master with no strings
Why is Israel, despite being a minor player, seen by so many Egyptians and others in the region as the master puppeteer behind the crisis in Egypt?
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