Atheists are widely misunderstood by many Arabs and Muslims. There are those who believe us to be Satanists or that we have no moral compass and are debauch degenerates. But understanding and sympathy are growing. Screen shot from one of…
Tag: iraq
Remembering Jewish Arabists and Arab Jews
By Khaled Diab In these polarised times, the social, political and cultural influence and fluid identities of Arab Jews and Jewish Arabists is largely forgotten when it should be commemorated and celebrated. A scene from Togo Mizrahi’s al-Izz Bahdala (1937)…
Trump is terrible but Europe and the Middle East have racism too
By Khaled Diab Outside America, Donald Trump has provoked near universal outrage and dismay. However, Europeans and Middle Easterners must not forget the racism closer to home. Photo: Peg Hunter, Flickr 5 November 2020 Millions of non-Americans around the world…
The mediocrity of evil
Many of the leaders held up as representing the epitome of evil were extraordinarily and spectacularly untalented, incapable and incompetent. With this mediocrity of evil, it is almost a wonder that they managed to rise to the top at all.…
Beyond belief: Arab atheists and their quest for acceptance amid intolerance
By Khaled Diab 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…
After ISIS, former Yazidi sex slaves are caught between trauma and taboo
By Boštjan Videmšek Safia, a Yazidi teenager from Iraq, was captured by the Islamic State, sold into sexual slavery, raped, tortured and made pregnant, leaving deep psychological scars. Her ability to come to terms with the trauma are thwarted by…
The clash between realpolitik and principled politics
The contrast between the red card from protesters and the red carpet from officials that greeted Mohammed bin Salman on his world tour highlights the growing global battle between a principled grassroots and a ‘pragmatic’ political leadership.
Island of despair
While the outrage of Europeans has been turned to Donald Trump’s wall and the handling of migrants at the border with Mexico, they ignore a humanitarian disaster closer to home. The EU has left Greece to handle the influx of refugees on its own and those stuck on Lesbos are living in abysmal conditions.
In search of the lost city of Londonistan
By Khaled Diab Our intrepid and fearless reporter visited the fabled capital of the European Caliphate, Londonistan. What he discovered was shockingly, surprisingly, confoundingly, almost frighteningly… ordinary. Sunday 9 September 2018 “Other tourists may remember London for its spectacular sights…
Bad blood or blood libel: When is criticism of Israel anti-Semitic?
While critics of Israel can be anti-Semitic, many who criticise Israel harbour a deep respect of and love for Jews. Similarly, supporting the Jewish state is not necessarily a manifestation of philo-Semitism and can stem from anti-Semitic motives.