Oh dear, another argument in which I am made to feel like a traitor for defending the ethics of our own tradition. I say that Islam prohibits targeting civilians. That we are not allowed to mutilate, torture or take vengeance on the defenceless. That taking civilians as hostages feels like hirabah (banditry) to me. That …
We must confess that white supremacy is alive and well. Arabs, Africans and Asians do not have a right to life, much less human rights. Our very-unprogressive leaders and commentators have made that clear. It’s nonsense then to consider them leaders of the free world. They’ve shown themselves the very antithesis of the post-war international …
Several years after many completed the entire series, Ertuğrul has belatedly entered our household like a long-awaited guest. Like many Muslim families, mine has embraced this Turkish historical drama with enthusiasm. Celebrated as an epic retelling of Islamic history — filled with honour, bravery, and devotion — it has captured hearts worldwide. Yet here I …
Over a decade ago, I said I didn’t get the wisdom of poking a frenzied bear in its eye with a sharp stick. A decade on, I still don’t understand it. You say it’s called resistance. I say it’s called trying the same tactic over and over again, expecting a different outcome. The first time …
Long, long ago, I believed that if I treated others well and were kind to them, they would reciprocate. Of course, I learned the hard way that this is rarely so. But I suppose this wishful thinking still colours my naive approach to international politics. “If only my brethren would conduct themselves with impeccable ethics, …
Both sides say, “God will grant us victory!” But, in truth, God will only grant victory to the just. Those that mercilessly deploy indiscriminate violence against civilians — on both sides — will only bring about their own demise. Who knows? Perhaps neither side will be granted victory, but will be replaced by another community …
Any nation that deploys terror bombing — obliterating entire neighbourhoods and all civilian infrastructure — is not civilised in my book. I don’t care what the propaganda says.
British Police arrest an octogenarian Jewish peace activist — a lifelong pacifist, once an anti-apartheid campaigner, now champion of Palestinian rights — under the Terrorism Act. Orwellian? Yes, but we passed that waymarker long ago.
I really detest and deplore white supremacists whining about the invasion and occupation of their lands. Our governments have literally invaded and occupied other people’s sovereign territory repeatedly, in our own lifetime. We’re the last people on earth to be pushing these patently false conspiracy theories made true only in our own heads. Perhaps if …
Everybody now sees who the terrorised are. Nobody believes the propaganda anymore.
What stopped Egypt opening its border, as Turkey and Lebanon did for Syrian refugees, as Bangladesh did for the Rohingya, or as Poland did for Ukraine? Instead, everybody parroted the anti-Quranic line of Al-Azhar: stay in harm’s way and die in your land. Why? Well, now you’ve got what you wanted. That desperate people are …
What are you backing?
The sacrifices men make, though they may detest it.
