Iranians celebrate national day

Iranians pour into the streets in millions to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in demonstrations across the country.

Led by the Founder of the Revolution, Imam Khomeini, Iranians confronted the forces of US-proxy Mohammad-Reza Pahlavi in late 1977 to end dictatorship rule in the country. By December 1978, millions of Iranians would take to the streets in protest against the policies of the Shah on a regular basis.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile to Iran to be received by cheering crowds after the departure of the Shah in mid-January 1979. Two weeks later, the country saw the Islamic Revolution. The final collapse of the Shah’s regime came on February 11 when the military renounced its loyalty to the Shah and joined the revolutionary forces.

Filed under: Iran, Islam, Islamic countries, Middle East

Hamas and democracy

By: Esfandiar Khodaee

Hamas really represents the Palestine nation in a clear democratic way. Nobody can deny the fact that Hamas democratically won the public election about two years ago. Yet the UN and the west and even some Arab nations do not make any political relations with Hamas.

Hamas and Palestinian people have experienced loneliness for 60 years. Now and in the 22 day war they learnt the great fact that the key of their victory is in their own hand. And they should depend on themselves and their own resistance not the timid Arab governments or the United Nation.

Filed under: Arab, Islam, Islamic countries, Middle East, muslim, palestine, Syria

Five and a half million Muslims in the United States

It is difficult to generalize about American Muslims. They are converts, immigrants, factory workers, and doctors. This varied community is unified by a common faith, underpinned by a nationwide network of a large number of mosques.

Muslims arrived early in North America. By the eighteenth century, there were many Muslims in North America. Great numbers of Americans have entered the fold of Islam. They are from different classes: the rich, the poor, the educated, and the illiterate. Today, there are about five and a half million Muslims in the United States.

Filed under: Islam, Islamic countries, Middle East, Islam in the United States

Muslims & Islam integrated into the American way of life

Islam is a religion that has spread through out the world and can be found in Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and the Americas. The history of Islam in America can be traced back to the 16th century, were it was introduced into the United States of America by Muslim slaves. The US has a substantial Muslim population, which is due to the increase in immigration of Muslims to the US, some being legal permanent US residents and others being refugees from Iraq.

Filed under: Islam

Human rights & peace in the middle east – Arabism & radical Islam discrimination on the «other»

Human rights & peace in the middle east – Arabism & Islam discrimination on the «other»
[Analysis] Peace will prevail when economic, social and cultural rights are granted to all … The Middle East… conflicts…  For example:

* the Israel and [so called] «Occupied Territories» (Palestine) issue

* the conflict between Hamas and the Fatah; the Iraq conflict

* the conflict in Afghanistan

* conflicts within Saudi Arabia

* the security concerns, especially the nuclear threat, that Ahmadinajad’s Iran poses

Filed under: Afghanistan, Algeria, Arab, Egypt, Iraq, Islam, Islamic countries, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Middle East, Oman, pakistan, palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Human rights

NO Arab university among the top 400 in the world

The failure of Arab universities to make it to the Best 400 list is indeed a source of frustration for a region that pins big hopes on the potential contributions of higher education to national development. A glimmer of hope amid the university gloom

The publication of the THES-QS World University Rankings for 2008 brings unhappy news for aspiring institutions of higher education in many regions, including the Arab world. According to the rankings, not one Arab university is among the top 400 in the world. The THES-QS report comes on the heels of the Academic Ranking of World Universities compiled by Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Institute of Higher Education, which offers an equally dismal assessment of Arab universities against global benchmarks.

Filed under: Africa, Algeria, Arab, Bahrain, Egypt, indonesia, Iraq, Islam, Islamic countries, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, malaysia, Middle East, muslim, Oman, pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

Islamic banking

Islamic banking refers to a system of banking or banking activity that is consistent with Islamic law (Sharia) principles and guided by Islamic economics. Shariah is the Islamic legal framework covering all aspects of lives of Muslims – private and public – including trade, commerce and business. In particular, Islamic law prohibits usury (charging exorbitant rates of interest when lending money), the collection and payment of interest, also commonly called riba in Islamic discourse. In addition, Islamic law prohibits investing in businesses that are considered unlawful, or haraam (such as businesses that sell alcohol or pork, or businesses that produce media such as gossip columns or pornography, which are contrary to Islamic values)

Filed under: Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Islam, Islamic countries, Middle East, palestine, Islamic banking

Khatami urges Christians, Muslims to work together

Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said Christians and Muslims should work together to help rid the world of cruelty and injustice.   Khatami said more than half the world’s population embraces either Christianity or Islam, so they should combine forces to promote peace and understanding….

Filed under: Iran, Islam, Islamic countries, Khatami, muslim, political, Christian, Muslims

«The term ‹Middle East› a trick by the British to replace the term ‹the world of Islam›

According to Iranian official Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, «Head of Majlis Cultural Commission.» Just think a bit about how loony that claim is: Former Majlis speaker said in Tehran on Tuesday that `Middle East› is a term forged by Britons to replace the `world of Islam›. «The term `Middle East› was coined by the British to replace the term `the world of Islam› so as to undermine unity of the Muslim world,» Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel said in an address to the one-day Conference on British Colonialism and Iran at Tehran Unive rsity.

Filed under: Iran, Islam, Islamic countries, Middle East

Islam Saves Islamic Banks

If one takes the name of Islam, the people in western world twist their nose. The holy word of Koran is disdained by many in the western world as a symbol of terrorism. Often 911 related events are considered the outcome of the practice of the extreme religion of Islam. However, the God who created this world always instilled a virtue in everything. If there was something not acceptable with Islam, there was something in it that averted the credit crisis in Islamic world.

Filed under: Islam, Islamic countries, Middle East