“Children and women will not be spared,” warned the leaflet. It wasn’t an idle threat. On May 1, Islamist insurgents …
Islam
Harsh Sentence a Warning to Australia’s Youthful Muslim Zealots
In almost any circumstance, pushing a police officer and kicking a police dog aren’t considered smart things to do. But does that behavior — even if it took place during the chaos and fury of a riot — deserve four years and …
Survey Reveals Little Change in Afghan Social Attitudes Despite Western Presence
After a decade of war in Afghanistan, the West’s massive military and aid presence has seemingly done little more than harden — or leave unchanged — social attitudes toward a slate of hot-button issues ranging from the …
The Boston-Bomber Trail: Fresh Clues in Rural Dagestan
The incongruous tombstone of a Canadian mujahid stands on a lush hill at the edge of Utamysh, a village in southern Russia’s Dagestan region, within reach of the salty breeze that comes off the Caspian Sea. The riddles of the …
Malaysia: At Least 26 Dead as Police Raid Sabah Siege
The three-week standoff involving a band of Filipino rebels who stormed a northern Borneo village has now claimed at least 26 lives
In Southern Thailand, 16 Dead and No Peace in Sight
Why the military is unlikely to resolve southern Thailand’s long-running insurgency
Must-Reads from Around the World
A growing number of people are converting to Islam in France, pawnshops in Macau bankroll mainland Chinese gamblers and Fidel Castro makes his longest public appearance since 2010
France’s Colonial Hangover: Apologizing Abroad, Ignoring Injustice at Home
French President François Hollande took strides to heal wounds between France and Algeria, but his recognition of “unjust” colonial history overlooks continued prejudice Algerian descendents still face in France.
The Document That May Define the New Egypt: Why the Constitution Matters
Secularists warn that Islamists have hijacked the drafting process and may give the country over to religious authorities who will determine how Shari‘a affects the law of the land
Muslim Pilgrims Converge on Mecca
Friday marks Eid-al-Adha, the close of the four-day annual pilgrimage, or hajj, to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
How Malala Yousafzai May Affect Pakistan’s Violent Culture Wars
The Taliban has declared that the education of girls is only a small part of its attack on Malala. It is the secularist movement she represents that it wants destroyed — and that is a more volatile debate in a deeply sectarian country
Obama at the U.N.: Solid on Principles, Vague on Policy
The U.S. President’s address to the U.N. General Assembly raised more questions than it answered on the substantial foreign policy challenges in the Middle East
The U.N. General Assembly: 5 Political Potholes for Obama
Tricky relations with an emerging Arab public, Netanyahu’s shaming rhetoric and a growing China-Japan spat. What’s to love about the U.N. for a President whose appointment with his electorate is just weeks away?
