Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla on September 9, welcomed some inter-religious figures from Myanmar at his office in Jakarta, and held a discussion on tolerance, harmony, and situation of interfaith people in both countries. The event was held through cooperation between the government and the Indonesia Inter-Religious Council (IRC) initiated by Din Syamsuddin, a national…
A 1,000-year old Hindu temple located in Pakistan’s Sialkot city, which was sealed for the last 72 years, has been re-opened for devotees. Shawala Teja Singh Temple built by Sardar Teja Singh was closed during the Partition. Hindus stopped visiting the temple after a mob damaged it in 1992, while protesting against the demolition of…
The academic dominance of the Muslim world has declined after its ancient scholars rejected the pursuit of secular knowledge, Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad has said in his opening speech to a higher education council in Ankara (Turkey). The rejection, Dr Mahathir said, came following a fatwa, or religious decree by those scholars, deeming secular knowledge…
Saudi Arabia will allow women to obtain passports and travel abroad without approval from a male “guardian”, the government said on August 2. After a historic leap of relaxing the guardianship law that allows the women to travel abroad without permission, a few other momentous decisions regarding women have come about in Saudi Arabia. With…
Malaysian Muslim pilgrims set an example in Makkah after they celebrated the Cleanliness Day on July 31 by picking up the brooms, cleaning rags and garbage bags. The session was an extension of last year’s successful cleanliness campaign, which had earned praise from the local authorities in Makkah and Madinah, informed Malaysian Hajj Delegation head,…
Makkah Gate, a magnificent structure that spans the width of the Jeddah-Makkah highway, has been welcoming visitors of the holy city for 34 years. Many asked the question of who built it, and it was announced recently by the governor of Makkah, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, that the names of all those who contributed to building…
It was a sleepy afternoon in Saudi Arabia, just days before schools were due to start after summer vacation. Fifty years ago today, Saudis joined the world in gathering around TV sets to watch a live broadcast of what was once thought impossible: American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took man’s first steps on…
Beatings and violent physical punishments persist in many Middle East schools despite international laws banning abuse of children and widespread concern about the effects of corporal punishment. Physical abuse is a grim reality in schools in the region, according to recent studies by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and UNICEF, which highlight Lebanon as a country…
Australia’s La Trobe University will be supporting the Islamic Museum of Australia’s annual Muslim artists exhibition as a major sponsor, offering a $15,000 Art Prize. The university’s Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar said the partnership reinforces the University’s commitment to connecting with all communities and transforming lives through education. The museum is located in suburban Thornbury,…
By Sumayyah Meehan The religion of Islam is deeply rooted in the heart of New Zealand. According to the International Muslim Association of New Zealand, there are an estimated 60,000 Muslims living on the windswept shores of the tiny Kiwi-state today who make up just 1% of the population. A diverse mix composed of refugees…
