Urging media to help focus the attention of society on the inhuman practice of manual scavenging, UNICEF Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) specialist Mr Amit Mehrotra, said that, proper and sustained sanitation drives will surely help in eradication of many killer diseases, including diarrhea, ty

People often associate the Middle East with oil. But in the region’s cities, villages and farms, access to a different resource is becoming rather problematic: water. Addressing this issue can not only ensure a sustainable future, but will also help create conditions for lasting peace.
There is a s

As the Israeli-Palestinian talks stall, the United States should consider this opportunity to reassess the negotiation process more broadly. Previous talks have suffered from lack of both transparency and inclusiveness: for most of the past 20 years, an extremely small group of high-level political

I remember when I was a teenager in Tehran the following verse from the Qur’an was frequently recited after prayers at Al-Anbiyâ, our local mosque: “The Messenger believes in that which has been revealed unto him from his Lord and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in God and His angels and Hi

None other can be the greatest hindrance in the progress of a person then to say, “I know myself better than anybody else.” We never had time to judge ourselves critically. We got less time to pause and ponder about shortcomings of the self. We see what pleases us and hear what pleases our ears and

Having faced ages of neglect, denial and invisibility, "Kothis" (feminised males) are now being mobilized by groups like 'Bharosa' in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (India) to be empowered and demonstrate leadership in reaching out within their community for increasing access to essential services including

That he welcomed two complete strangers knocking on his door on a rainy Parisian summer day is yet one more testimonial to the late Professor Mohammed Arkoun’s kindness and humility. After being greeted on the threshold of their apartment by his lovely wife, we were introduced to him, his son and hi

The Arabic word for olive is zaytun. Qur’anic and Biblical scriptures have deemed the olive an extraordinary fruit due to its many benefits, and call the olive tree a symbol of purity and light. Thus, it is only fitting that the first Muslim college in the United States, carrying the light of knowle

In August 2008, one of the worst communal genocide attempts on the Christian community occurred in Orissa's Kandhamal district, among India's poorest places. Over 100 people including women, differently-abled, children, Adivasis and Dalits were killed. 3 women were gang raped and many were injured.

National Diabetes Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation (N-DOC)” with support from Department Of Science & Technology, Ministry Of Science & Technology and Chronic Care Foundation had organized a Consensus Conference of physicians, endocrinologists, metabolic specialists, cardiologists, paediatricians,

We Indians have a tendency to delve in the past and then either gloat over it or cry over it. We love to waste time and energy, reminiscing about the yesteryears, with scant thoughts of improving our present and future. We do not let 'Bygones be Bygones', but rather cling to them in a sadistic sort

Despite progress made in recent years, tuberculosis (TB) remains a challenge for the world, participants heard at the special opening session of the Second Global Forum on TB Vaccines in Tallinn, Estonia. New vaccines could make a significant difference.
Christopher Dye of the World Health Organiza

This year, on the ninth anniversary of the 11 September attacks, many Americans were scared that violence would ensue as a result of a planned Qur’an burning and the controversy over an Islamic cultural centre, Park51, in lower Manhattan. Thankfully, the day came and went with no major eruptions of

Religious leaders should advocate the spirit of God’s words, which make no distinction between colour and creed and are found in all religions’ divine revelations. It is God’s will that our societies be culturally and religiously diverse, as He says in the Qur’an: “And if thy Lord had willed, He ver

Whether or not one believes that religion unites or divides communities, it is unarguably a fundamental element in the formation of human society. As such, it is understandable that religion can be an important element when it comes to resolving conflicts.
Our experience in the Arab Group for Musl