Apparently many Saudi women believe that late night weddings are highly inconvenient, so they’re campaigning and holding workshops to try and change this tradition. According to Arab News:
Midnight weddings annoy many people, including husbands and drivers who have to ferry the women folk home, and the elderly who are unable to stay up late. In […]

This week I got a chance to meet a Christian Arab member of the Israeli Knesset, Nadia Hilou (Hilo). She is a member of the labor Party, and is the only Christian Arab woman, one of 17 total women, and one of two Arab Christians in the Israeli parliament. Nadia was the guest on my […]

I had previously written about this here. The results were finally out today, and Hometown Baghdad wins 3 of its 4 nominated awards for the following categories:
- Reality
- Best Political/News Series
- Public Service and Activism
The only one it did not win was “best editing,” which is hardly a loss!
This is a really big win […]

Arms sales and military training in the Middle East have been increasing since the end of the US invasion of Iraq. The United States has delivered more weapons to this region than any other country in the world.
Bush administration announced in 2007, unprecedented weapons deals worth at least $20 billion to Saudi Arabia and five […]

Sixty years have passed since the founding of the State of Israel, and it is fitting, therefore, to look back and to assess. Since her founding, the expectation was that the Jewish State would become “A Light Unto the Nations,” in keeping with biblical prophesies to that effect. Has this hope been realized, or has […]

I saw this story the other day on a Blog on a site where I’m posting and discussing a lot lately – a new ‘local’ network for Israelis and Palestinians to connect, discuss, interact and get close to each other: MEPEACE.ORG
As I identify very much with the way of thinking the story talks about, […]

More than a year ago, Lalith and I created a “Not My Islam” shirt. I got it for my family and friends. Recently my sister took some great photos of her wearing it (she does her best to promote this message as well) and I thought I’d plug them in here to inspire and encourage […]

Last winter, Iran’s Health Ministry in cooperation with Police Forces tried to stop all traditional cafés from serving Qalyan (water pipe) to the customers. It should be noted that two general type of Qalyan have been available in such places: Traditional Qalyan which contains pure tobacco and dates back to several centuries ago, and relatively […]

Ghazi Al Ghosaibi, Saudi Arabia’s Labour Minister, decried the influence on guardians on Saudi Arabian society during a meeting with the Human Rights Commission, saying they hindered society’s progress. His comments came as a response over a controversy sparked by the Ministry of Social Affairs, which is considering hiring Saudi women as housemaids. The minister […]

Sami al Hajj, Al Jazeera’s cameraman, was finally released from Guantanamo Bay!
Sami, a Sudanese citizen, was captured in Pakistan on December 2001 while  travelling to Afghanistan. Although he held a legitimate work visa,  Pakistani authorities turned him over to the US forces, who transferred him to Guantanamo 6 months later, on charges of being an […]

Mistrial in war related corruption case proves there is more to it
By Ray Hanania
A jury in Rock Island, Illinois said they were deadlocked on the Bush Administration’s prosecution of a former middle-level sub-contractor for Halliburton that the federal government has targeted for more than three years.
The jury was split evenly over charges that Jeff Mazon, […]

Egyptian Singer Rania Shaalan is performing in a musicology concert at the Sawy Centre Theatre on May 12. She will also be playing the acoustic guitar and piano.
Shaalan was first discovered in 1995 by Dr. Tarek Sharara. Without hesitation he hosted her live on an FM radio station program called “Play On.” Sharara interviewed her […]