Last March in Saudi Arabia, a country where conversion from Islam to another religion could land you the death penalty, where non-Muslim worship is outlawed, and where even some Muslim sects (Sufis and Shiites, for example) are discriminated against, King Abdullah called for dialogue between members of the world’s monotheistic religions. The “World Conference on Dialogue” was held this month in Madrid under the auspices of the Muslim World League with King Abdullah playing host. The Economist observed: “Given that jihadist violence - seen by many people as a by-product of reactionary Saudi theology - has touched the [Saudi] kingdom itself, as well as cities like New York and London, the king has every incentive to use his influence to steer global Islam in a more moderate direction. But to succeed abroad, he may need to succeed more at home.” (”Global Islam: Unusual Guests, A Most Unusual Host,” The Economist, July 26, 2008, 71).
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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[...] See also Posted by Ted Thornton on Saturday, March 29, 2008, at 9:38 am. Filed under Islam, Islam and the West, Saudi Arabia, Trends. Follow any responses to this post with its comments RSS feed. You can post a comment or trackback from your blog. [...]
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