In June, a French court denied citizenship to a Moroccan woman on the grounds that the niqab (”veil”) she chose to wear (a full veil with a narrow slit for the eyes) was inconsistent with French values such as equality of the sexes. The ruling was supported by France’s Urban Affairs Minister, Fadela Amara, herself a Muslim, who branded the woman’s niqab “a prison” and “a straitjacket.” The court ruling was hailed by French citizens from across the political spectrum, including many Muslims. See: Katrin Bennhold, “A Veil Closes France’s Door to Citizenship,” New York Times, July 18, 2008. (More: see “Muslims in Europe”) (see also)
BBC Middle East- November 21st 2008
Iraqis protest against troop deal
Supporters of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr stage protests in Baghdad against a deal to allow US troops to remain in Iraq. - November 21st 2008
Security increase in tense Hebron
Israel increases security in the West Bank city of Hebron ahead of a Jewish pilgrimage there by an expected 20,000 people. - November 21st 2008
Shoot-out in north Lebanon city
One person is killed and three are wounded in a shoot-out in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, security forces say. - November 20th 2008
Security draws Iraqi doctors home
Improved security in Iraq has led to 800 doctors returning so far this year, a senior health ministry official says. - November 18th 2008
Iraq leader defends US troop deal
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki defends a deal on the presence of US forces in Iraq, saying it preserves Iraqi sovereignty. - November 21st 2008
Gaza activists 'on hunger strike'
Three human rights activists detained with Palestinian fishermen off Gaza by Israel say they have gone on hunger strike. - November 21st 2008
US global dominance 'to wane'
US dominance is likely to weaken by 2025 as India and China grow stronger, a new Washington intelligence report says. - November 21st 2008
Lockerbie families claim victory
The families of US victims of the 1988 Lockerbie Pan Am bombing claim victory in their quest for justice. - November 20th 2008
US convicts Syrian arms dealer
A Syrian-born arms dealer is convicted by a US court of conspiring to sell weapons to left-wing Colombian rebels. - November 20th 2008
Somalia 'to become pirate magnet'
Somalia must be helped by the international community to stop it becoming a "magnet for pirates," a senior Egyptian official has said.
- November 21st 2008
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