At least 850 people were executed in Iran in the last 15 months, a UN official stated on Monday, emphasizing the worsening human rights situation in the country under President Hassan Rouhani. Ahmed Shaheed, the UN’s rights rapporteur for Iran, said that the “surge in executions” has resulted in Iran having the world’s highest death penalty rate per capita. “The …
أكمل القراءة »أرشيف الوسم : people
Attention on Burnaby mosque due to Ottawa gunman
The Masjid al-Salaam mosque in the town of Burnaby has recently come under the spotlight after it was discovered that Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, the man behind the Ottawa shooting, had attended the mosque. However, on Friday, the mosques fielded questions from international press members to dispel all notions that the Mosque has not condoned his actions. B.C. Muslim Association’s spokesman for …
أكمل القراءة »The Religions that Survived 14 Centuries of Islamic Rule
When Islam was at its strongest, it was also at its most open-minded By Gerard Russell – Onfaith Ours is the oldest religion in the world,” said the Mandaean high priest to me in 2006, when we met during my diplomatic posting to Baghdad. He did indeed turn out to be the religious leader of an ancient people whose traditions …
أكمل القراءة »Australia: “No Way” anti-immigration campaign greeted with brickbats
The Australian government has drawn flak from various quarters over its current media campaign against undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers, seemingly sending the message that they are not welcome. The government hopes that the rhetoric will discourage immigrants from settling in the country. The latest government-approved poster in the hard hitting campaign, already printed in 17 languages, says “No way. …
أكمل القراءة »Before Columbus: How Africans Brought Civilization to America
By Garikai Chengu On Monday, America’s government offices, businesses, and banks all grind to a halt in order to commemorate Columbus Day. In schools up and down the country, little children are taught that a heroic Italian explorer discovered America, and various events and parades are held to celebrate the occasion. It has now become common knowledge amongst academics that …
أكمل القراءة »Muslims custodians take care of Jewish synagogues in India
At a time when tensions between Israel and Palestine seem to be at an all-time high, the small Jewish community in an eastern Indian city seems to be living alongside their Muslim brethren without any trouble. Three synagogues in the Indian city of Kolkata, which boasts of a miniscule Jewish population of around 20, have had Muslim caretakers for generations, …
أكمل القراءة »Iran: “Bad Hijab” rumored to behind acid attacks on women
Several acid attacks on women in the historic city of Isfahan has raised alarm and prompted rumors that the women were being targeted for not being properly covered. The Iranian police have declined to comment on the issue, but say that many suspects have been arrested and that an investigation is currently ongoing, General Hossein Ashtari was quoted saying by …
أكمل القراءة »Families can’t afford living in three-fourths of Vancouver
Almost 75% of neighborhoods in Vancouver are too expensive for the average family to buy a house in, a study conducted by The Vancouver Sun suggested. The daily created an interactive “affordability map”, and found out that a family with an income of less than $ 80,000 before taxes cannot afford homes in 76% of the Metro Vancouver region’s neighborhoods, …
أكمل القراءة »Iran: “Richkidsoftehran” instagram page blocked due to its “vulgarity”
Iran has blocked access to a page on Instagram dedicated to the lifestyle of the young elite of Tehran that stirred strong displeasure and had spawned a rival page that showed how most people in Iran live. The “Richkidsoftehran” page was created in September on Instagram and had attracted around 90,000 followers, with its contributors stating that they wanted to …
أكمل القراءة »Islamophobia in Canada Post 9/11
Islamophobia has been rife post the 9/11 WTC attacks. Bias has been evident – though not prevalent – even in Canada. According to several surveys conducted post 9/11, hate crimes and discrimination against Muslims has seen an appalling increase. According to the survey conducted in 2002 by CAIR-CAN, a civil rights organization, majority of Muslims in Canada felt there was …
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