Perhaps the controversy is a reminder of the issues we still need to urgently confront.
By Ramzy Baroud
The controversy over the right of Muslim Americans to build community center and mosque a short distance from the site of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks is both strange and outright inappropriate. It should never be necessary for law-abiding Americans to justify exercising their right to freely practice their own religion. This right is in accor
A state of arrested development has defined this particular refugee camp and Lebanon's relationship with refugees. (IRIN)
By Ramzy Baroud – Beirut, Lebanon
Two young girls stood, as if frozen, starting below them at an ever vibrant Beirut. Their balcony, like the rest of their house and most of their refugee camp was of an indistinct color. It was dirty, as were their clothes. They, on the other hand, looked beautiful and bright, although their future didn’t.
There is much haste here, as the clash is expected, once more, to come to head.
By Ramzy Baroud – Beirut, Lebanon
Jamal is a Lebanese driver in his late 50’s. He appeared unshaven and terribly exhausted as he drove his old passenger van from the airport in Beirut to the Bekaa Valley. Although it was not a particularly arduous trip, it was made more grueling by the way Jamal drove, negotiating the elevation, the hectic traffic and th
Palestine, for many Muslims existed as part of a collective imagination, solidified with unifying symbols.
By RAMZY BAROUD
Thousands of faithful assiduously listened as I outlined the challenges facing Palestine and its people. Cries of 'Allahu Akbar' – God is Great – occasionally resounded from a corner of the giant South African mosque. Many whimpered as I described the tragedy that had befallen Gaza as a result of the Israeli siege.
One wonders how much longer the Palestinian leadership can sustain this act, the real exercise of futility.
By RAMZY BAROUD
Each time Israel fails to keep its 'side of the bargain', the Palestinian Authority responds with the same redundant language. The cycle has become so utterly predictable that one wonders why the Palestinian Authority officials even bothers protesting Israeli action. They must be well aware that their cries, genuine or otherwis
Mohamed Mouss, 12, was injured by Israeli cluster bomblets in 2006.
By RAMZY BAROUD
Cluster bombs are in the news again, thanks to a recent report from Amnesty International.
The human rights agency has confirmed that 35 women and children were killed following the latest US attacks on an alleged al-Qaeda hideout in Yemen. Initially, there were attempts to bury the story, and Yemen officially denied tha
The discussion of MDGs should not come at the expense of realism and truth.
By RAMZY BAROUD
When the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were first declared, they were met with a sense of promise. A decade later, despite all the official insistence that all is on track, it is increasingly clear that this approach to development was flawed from the onset.
But why should Palestinian refugees be humiliated for no fault of their own?
By RAMZY BAROUD
Finally, a parliamentary debate in Lebanon over the human rights of Palestinian refugees. What is unfortunate though, is that granting basic civil rights to over 400,000 Palestinians - 62 years after their expulsion from their historic homeland and the issuing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – has been a topi
Turkey is escalating its involvement well beyond Israel's comfort zone. (Via Google)
By RAMZY BAROUD
'Even despots, gangsters and pirates have specific sensitiveness, (and) follow some specific morals.'
The claim was made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a recent speech, following the deadly commando raid on the humanitarian aid flotilla to Gaza on May 31. According to Erdogan, Israel doesn’t adher
I would scavenge the beach looking for evidence of the existing world beyond the horizon.
By RAMZY BAROUD
I grew up by the Gaza sea. Through my childhood, I could never quite comprehend how such a giant a body of water, which promised such endless freedom, could also border on such a tiny and cramped stretch of land - a land that was perpetually held hostage, even as it remained perpetually defiant.
Why are Muslims playing right into this scenario? Actually, they are not, although it would seem otherwise. (Via NYT)
By RAMZY BAROUD
'Any depictions of the prophet are considered blasphemous by Muslims,' wrote Agencies, as reported readily by Aljazeera.net English. The above statement is meant to fully summarize the reason behind the outrage that arises in Pakistan and other parts of the Muslim world whenever some provocative ‘artist’ decides to
The debate is no longer confined to a few academics in distant universities. It is now a widely prevalent, mainstream topic of discussion.
How will the news of the future be distributed? The jury is still out, but not completely. Increasingly, we are driven to believe that the future will be paperless. Some argue that the
This book gives us a well structured understanding of a seemingly chaotic legacy.
By RAMZY BAROUD
When former US President George W. Bush left the White House, he left behind one of the most unpleasant legacies in history. He redefined the US’ role in world affairs, tainted the country’s reputation, and left his successor with a political inheritance that seemed almost irrevocable. This, of course, says nothing
Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone hosts an exciting discussion on Ramzy Baroud's book: My Father Was a Freedom Fighter: Gaza's Untold Story. Watch: Part I, Part II, Part III
