The era of multiculturalism in Canada has made many people more familiar with the festive traditions of other groups, and given common currency to new words such as Ramadan, Kwanza and Diwali. But knowledge of those religions rarely goes much beyond the surface, according to John Stackhouse, professor of theology at Vancouver’s Regent College. “If…
Ahmed Marcouch, chairman of the heavily immigrant Amsterdam neighborhood of Slotervaart, is taking it upon himself to fight persistent homophobia in the locality, including presenting a memorandum with measures to make the neighborhood more gay-friendly. Name-calling, being spit on, and harassment are common experiences for gay persons passing street corners – and a number of…
The director of Rome’s Grand Mosque is urging mosques across Italy to hold their Friday prayers for the victims of the devastating earthquake in central Italy, which killed at least 278 people, injured several thousand, and left around 28,000 homeless. “I am asking the imams of all of Italy’s mosques to follow our example and…
A Dutch TV jury found Osama bin Laden not guilty of the September 11th attacks, in a mock trial of the show “Devil’s Advocate.” The show’s premise follows a popular defense attorney, who stands up for some of the world’s worst criminals. In the latest show recently aired, defense attorney Gerald Soong was able to…
Youssef Megahed, a legal, permanent resident of the United States, has been re-arrested just three days after a federal jury found him not guilty of explosives charges. Legal experts cite Megahed’s detention as part of a federal government tendency to use immigration law when federal prosecutors don’t have enough evidence to convict persons in the…
