News and Analysis (12/25/19)

As millions visit Bethlehem for Christmas, 92% of Bethlehem’s 210,000 Palestinians, Christians as well as Muslims, have restricted access and are confined to 13% of the total land with a devastated economy:

• “We Are Living in a Touristic Prison”: Palestinians on Life in the Holy City of Bethlehem (VOX.com)

A letter to the editor highlights the commonality between Christians and Muslims and shows Prophet Jesus as the strong connection that bind the two Abrahamic faiths, while recognizing extremist elements on both sides:

• Letter to the Editor: Muslim-Christian Connection (TribLIVE)

Rep. Pramila Jayapal is “proud to have lived my life in two of the world’s great democracies” and won’t let the head of the world’s largest democracy dictate to the Congress of the world’s oldest democracy:

• India’s Foreign Minister Refused to Meet Me. I Won’t Stop Speaking Out on Human Rights (Washington Post)

“For 776 days, Saudi Arabia has railroaded a US citizen and has confined him and his family to the country like hostages” — Mohamed Soltan, leader of the Freedom Initiative:

• Calls Increase for Saudi Arabia to Drop Charges Against U.S. Physician (Washington Post)

The born again Muslim millennial movement in Indonesia, showing much interest in religious studies, worries proponents of moderate tradition:

• The Changing Face of Indonesian Islam (The Diplomat)

A Muslim woman who was arrested in Minnesota for failing to pay traffic violation is awarded $120,000 by the court for being forced to remove her headscarf for a mugshot:

• Muslim Woman Awarded $120,000 After Police Removed Hijab for Mugshot in ‘Humiliating’ Experience (Washington Examiner)

Trump distracted global policy is pushing Russia, China, and Iran to form a new alliance in the region with the probability other countries like Pakistan to join:

• What’s in the Growing Russia-China-Iran Trilateral Convergence? (The Diplomat)

As reports that Iran is expanding its Internet crackdown emerge, a spokesman for its Guardian Council insists that the country discriminate between legitimate dissent and “sabotage”:

• Iran Starts Internet Shutdown Before Possible New Protests: Reports (Reuters)
• Iran’s Guardian Council: ‘The Authorities Must Respond to the People’s Rightful Demands’ (France24)

“The Buddhist-majority state has been locked in a simmering conflict with Malay-Muslim militants in Thailand’s south for 15 years with rebels fighting for more autonomy “:

• Thailand Charges Two Soldiers in Killing of Muslim Civilians (Channel News Asia)