News and Analysis (10/3/12)

Researchers argue “that the roots of Muslims’ lagging performance may be attributed to institutional differences that go back to the British colonial period. In doing so, they discount conventional explanations including the supposed ‘conservatism and insularity” of Islam”:

• Economics Journal: A Theory Why India’s Muslims Lag (Wall St. Journal)

“The force is supposed to police dress codes and religious observance. But there has been growing anger among Saudis at examples of aggressive behaviour by the ‘mutawa’”:

• Saudi Arabia Religious Police Chief Announces New Curbs (BBC)

Contradicting Ahmadinejad’s attempt to blame others for Iran’s currency cirsis, Hilary Clinton observes, “They have made their own government decisions – having nothing to do with the sanctions – that have had an impact on the economic conditions inside of the country”:

• Iran Currency Crisis Sparks Tehran Street Clashes (Guardian)

“A female contender for [Morsi’s old] leadership position of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm said she wouldn’t rule out an eventual presidential bid”:

• Woman Could Take Top Muslim Bros. Post (UPI)

“The deaths in Meit Ghamr and other reports of abuse by the police have raised concerns that Egypt’s new government, hoping to fill the security vacuum after the uprising last year, has been content to bring back an unreformed police force that is continuing old patterns of repression”:

• In New Era, Egyptian Police Mimic the Old, Critics Say (NY Times)

“Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir … described the attacks as a ‘premeditated and deliberate attempt’ to disrupt communal harmony”:

• Bangladesh blames Muslim Rohingyas for Temple Attacks (Reuters)

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