This September, it will be 20 years since the 9-11 attacks on the United States by Al Qaeda, and the launch of the United States led global “war on terror” (WOT). No single event has affected/defined the Muslim Ummah globally as much as the WOT (possibly since the launch of the Crusades in 1095). The...
Ayaan Institute recently advertised for three summer internships in different areas of our work. We were delighted to receive a huge response from all over the world – 91 applications from people of all faiths and none from the UK, USA, Canada, Netherlands, Ireland, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Italy, Qatar, Kashmir, Turkey, and many other places....
The Syrian Presidential election takes place today, 26th May. Few people aside from Bashar Al Assad and his backers are taking them seriously. There is only one outcome that most are expecting. Like dictators of other countries and the past, Assad will no doubt obtain a large majority (somewhere around 95-99% of the vote tends...
105 years ago on 16 May 1916, the Sykes-Picot agreement was signed. The British and French obtained mandates over different parts of Muslim lands, that had formerly been part of the Ottoman Empire. The First World War was very much a clash of dying empires competing to consolidate or take control of territories/regions. The aftermath...
As Israeli forces attack and invade Al Aqsa mosque on the holiest nights of the holy month, I will repeat what I have previously said about Palestine. Israel and its extreme supporters appear to be able to do anything to the Palestinian people and few in the world would care or act. The occupied Palestinian...
Genocide, Nationalism and International law. Genocide is a heinous crime. The intentional attempt to punish or wipe out a people for any reason, be it political, religious, or racial falls foul of International conventions on genocide. Intent being the key word here. Even in wars, whether internal between communities or external against other countries, collectively...
The Muslim world today consists of 53 Muslim majority nation states and around 1.8 billion people. Millions of Muslims also live as minorities in non-Muslim majority states. The global Ummah includes people of different cultures, ethnicities, and tribes. There are millions of Muslims being persecuted around the world, many living as refugees or displaced people....
The 3rd of March 1924 is a date etched in most Muslim minds as the moment the Ottoman Khilāfah (Caliphate) ended. This year, some Muslims are commemorating the 100-year anniversary (in the Hijri calendar) since the end of the Khilāfah. It marked the end of a title, political system, and ideal that had existed in one shape or another...
The number of Muslim refugees around the world is now more than the population of some Muslim majority states. We have an ummah of refugees. Many refugees are left in camps for decades, others live in refugee settlement areas not integrated into the wider societies where they live.
It seems a long time ago since George W Bush junior declared that the United States would spread democracy to the Muslim world. In the aftermath of 9/11, Western governments declared democracy to be a universal value to be aspired to. It was presented as the most modern and advanced form of government that humanity...
