News and Analysis (6/27/08)

Despite a spotless work record, Department of Energy revokes a Muslim American’s clearance, using the pretext of “national security”, for his antiwar views:

• Muslim Physicist Says Feds Retaliated Against Him (AP/Wiredispatch)

Continuing its campaign of political persecution, DoJ officials slap Sami al-Arian with criminal contempt charges despite already completing one other post-plea bargain sentence:

• Former Professor Indicted In Muslim Charities Case (Washington Post)

Saudi Sunnis make an unprecedented gesture of solidarity with the Shiite minority at Jum’a prayers:

• Rare Show of Islamic Unity in Saudi Arabic (Gulf News)

With the blessing of the state, Iranian civil society organizations attempt to openly tackle the country’s massive opium addiction problem:

• Iran Fights Scourge of Addiction in Plain View, Stressing Treatment (New York Times)

Law enforcement officials seek to prosecute four for alleged involvement in the JFK terror plot despite no allegations of “explosives, money or an executable plan”:

• 3 Extradited to U.S. in Alleged JFK Airport Plot (Los Angeles Times)

Broad coalition of at least 200 “national security advisers, retired military leaders, counterterrorism experts, and religious leaders” release statement denouncing torture:

• Ban Torture for Security's Sake, Coalition Tells Bush (Christian Science Monitor)

Despite massive crackdowns against alleged Al-Qaeda operatives, arbitrary arrests and state-sanctioned interpretation of Wahhabism keep the criminal organization robust:

• Saudi Arabia: Militant Groups Remain Active Despite Record Arrests (Christian Science Monitor)

Despite its opposition to Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories, Hamas seeks to stay faithful to its ceasefire by reining in other militant groups in Gaza:

• Militant Hamas as Reluctant Moderator (Christian Science Monitor)