Minaret of Freedom Weblog

Nearly 100,000 Iraqis have charges dropped and/or are freed from jail under new sweeping amnesty law meant to promote reconciliation:

• Iraq Courts Order 20,000 Freed Under Amnesty (Reuters/Wiredispatch)

Government-forced Arabization programs after years of French colonization leads to religious and social schizophrenia among Algeria’s youth:

• In Algeria, a Tug of War for Young Minds (New York Times)

Competition offers better programming and reporting than American state-funded broadcasting:

• U.S. Network Falters in Mideast Mission (Washington Post)

Consumer taste and security costs account for decline in coverage of the Iraq occupation:

• Reporters Say Networks Put Wars on Back Burner (New York Times)

Politics escalate religious tensions between China’s minorities:

• Tensions Rise Between Tibetans, Chinese Muslims (Los Angeles Times)

Despite new unity government, politico-sectarian clashes continue in Lebanon:

• Clashes Rock North Lebanon City (BBC News)

Indonesian faith-based civil society steps up its youth programs to counter increase in religious violence:

• Interfaith Tour Seeks to Promote Tolerance (Jakarta Post)