Calling the Faithful to Freedom!

We have already explained in brief why most Afghanis cheer the American withdrawal, despite their previous unpleasant experience under Taliban rule.  For the gory details, read this: The Other Afghan Women (New Yorker) Tunisia’s military is uniquely respected in the Arab world for staying out of politics, but now aspiring strong man Kais Saied has…

The far right and white supremacists were responsible for 73% of fatalities due to extremists in 2009-2018 and 57 of the 59 deaths due to extremists in 2019-2020, yet most of the billions of dollars on counterterrorism funding since 9/11 has been spent chasing after Muslims: Close to Home: How US Far-right Terror Flourished in…

The death of a peaceful advocate of Kashmiri self-determination provides India with a pretext to double down on its repression: Internet Shut Down and Indian Troops Deployed After Death of Kashmir Separatist Leader (Reuters / CNN) New Zealanders distinguish between the lone wolf responsible for the ISIS-inspired attack and New Zealand’s  broader Muslim community which …

It is possible to teach about 9/11 without triggering anti-Muslim hysteria: include the Muslim immigrants who lost their lives as first responders, discuss the “Muslim ban” and “no-fly lists,” and keep students safe: Commentary: Lessons About 9/11 Often Provoke Harassment of Muslim Students (Press Herald) Gantz’s “previously undisclosed talks on Sunday with President Mahmoud Abbas”…

“[I]deology is going to have to take a backseat if the Taliban government is to survive” …: The Taliban Talks a Lot About Sharī‘a — but How Much Does that Really Tell Us About How They Will Govern? (ABC) … but Biden’s withdrawal of American diplomats from Kabul guarantees no American influence, at least in…

Palestinian medics reported at least 14 people were wounded, including five who were shot protesting a blockade “that has devastated Gaza’s economy and fueled an unemployment rate that hovers at approximately 50 percent”: Palestinians in Gaza Resume Protests Against Israeli Blockade (Al-Jazeera) Unclear guidelines and fear of sanctions are stopping tech companies from selling products…

Pro-Palestine activists staged a protest outside an Israeli arms manufacturer’s plant in the borough of Oldham, UK, as part of their nationwide campaign against one of Israel’s “largest arms manufacturers”: Production of Israeli Arms Halted – Elbit’s Oldham Factory Shut Down By Palestine Action (Palestine Action) Mohammed El Halabi was accused of “stealing relief money…

“Groups of armed Afghans attacked the Taliban on Friday, driving Afghanistan’s new rulers out of three northern districts, the first assault against the Islamist militants since they swept into Kabul last week and seized control of the government”: Anti-Taliban Fighters Claim Victories as First Stirrings of Armed Resistance Emerge (Washington Post) Israeli troops fired on…

U.S. intervention created the corruption in Afghanistan that made the Taliban takeover so easy in the end … Sanction Pakistan? Try Blaming America for Afghanistan (TRT World) Dispatches from Afghanistan: The Bombshell Interview (Hollie McKay) … but will the Taliban do any better than they did last time? Defining Change: Who Are the Taliban that…