Oman's interfaith diplomacy
Oman is one of those countries that frequently remains under the radar in terms of international news, a position Oman is happy to be in. However, once you begin to actively research this stable and flourishing Gulf monarchy, you will uncover this best-kept secret of the Middle East. One of the most remarkable aspects of the country is how the state religion, Islam, is practiced. A majority of Omanis practice Ibadism, a tradition within Islam that predates both the Sunni and Shia traditions. Apart from a community in Zanzibar (an area of modern Tanzania that used to be part of Oman) and a few small parts of North Africa, Ibadism is a majority tradition only in Oman. Partly due to its small following, Ibadism is very tolerant of other faith traditions.
Continue reading on U.S.-Middle East Youth Network
Life on Obama's kill list
In January 2010, I lent my vehicle to my nephew, Salimullah, to drive to Deegan for an oil change and to have one of the tires checked. Rumours had surfaced that drones were targeting particular vehicles, and tracking particular phone signals. The sky was clear and there were drones circling overhead.
As Salimullah conversed with the mechanic, a second vehicle pulled up next to mine. There were four men inside, just local chromite miners. A missile destroyed both vehicles, killed all four men, and seriously injured Salimullah, who spent the next 31 days in hospital.
Upon reflection, because the drones target the vehicles of people they want to kill in Waziristan, I was worried that they were aiming for me.
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Severed heads and slaughtered sheep: Baghdad students prefer their graduation parties gory
The Baghdad man staggered onto the scene, covered in blood and carrying a knife. He began to scream. Then all of a sudden, hearing the start of a nationalist pop tune, he began to dance excitedly. Thrashing about next to him was another apparently bleeding man who appeared to have lost both of his hands.
This was not a bizarre scene from a suicide bombing where victims have become hysterical. It was a graduation party at one of the University of Baghdad’s colleges where dressing up in Halloween-style costumes has become something of a tradition. In the past students used to wear different costumes, dressing up as historical figures or cartoons. But recently blood and gore has been a more popular choice, along with military looks.
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